Assessing performance of long-range ZigBee for road infrastructure communications

The rapid advancement of Intelligent Transport Systems necessitates reliable and efficient communication between Vehicles and Infrastructure (V2I). ZigBee technology, known for its low power consumption and robust mesh networking capabilities, is a promising solution for such applications. This paper presents an empirical evaluation of long-range ZigBee communication in an interurban environment. This study examines how distance and antenna type affect communication performance for vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems. There were two main tests conducted on a straight, obstacle-free road. The first test, a radio range test, measured Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values to assess signal strength over different distances. The second test, a throughput test, evaluated communication reliability by measuring the average transfer ratio test and the number of successfully transmitted packets. The tests determined the maximum operational range of the communication modules, the overall performance of the technology, and the most suitable antenna type for V2I applications.