Characterization of UHF Radio Channels for Wireless Sensor Systems Embedded in Surfboards

The radio propagation for wireless systems embedded in surfboards has been characterized with the aim of testing the quality of a person to surfboard communication and person to infrastructure in aquatic environments, by means of wireless body area networks combined with an adequate transport technology. Wireless channel performance was analyzed using an in house developed 3-D Ray Launching Method and validated by empirical measurements, showing good agreement with differences below 3 dB, showing the influence of multipath components generated in this context as well as the strong influence of the average height of sea waves, which was introduced within the deterministic algorithm employed. The adoption of precise radioplanning techniques can aid in the deployment of efficient and cost effective new wireless solutions and optimal antenna location, applied to surfing and extendable to other aquatic sports and applications.