A Full Duplex Wireless Mesh System for Sports Environment

2021 ELE Engineering Design Project (XF02)

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Faculty Lab Coordinator

Xavier Fernando

Topic Category

Signal Processing / Communication

Preamble

Often multiple sports players need to converse simultaneously while playing or coordinating games. However, most existing walkie-talkies support only 'push-to-talk' feature where only one person can talk at a time. A full-duplex system where a the voice is transmitted in both directions simultaneously is needed to support a natural conversation. In most cases this system shall support more than two speakers to have a virtual audio conferencing feature. A mesh network is ideal for this. I am collaborating with a company who develop such a Full Duplex Wireless Mesh System. They design and manufacture full-duplex radios and wireless conferencing systems without a base station for up to sixteen talkers. This company holds the largest share in the sports officiating area in North America. The radios are also used extensively by different areas of profession, such as industrial plants, first responders, military, hospitals, biolabs, and entertainment.

Objective

The objective is to build a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based Full Duplex Wireless Mesh system.

Partial Specifications

Head-sets should be full-duplex (talk and listen at the same time).

Support up to 16 users simultaneously.

Low latency (real time) voice communication.

Long range.

The whole unit shall be small, cheap, and have extra long battery life.

Suggested Approach

Existing prototypes using other types of radio are available from the manufacturer. The primary objective is to incorporate the BLE chip that will increase the range, reduce size and provide extra long battery life. The migration means redoing the firmware in BLE. The company will provide technical support and development kits.

Group Responsibilities

The whole group is responsible for the successful completion of the overall project.

Student A Responsibilities

BLE interface

Student B Responsibilities

Firmware development

Student C Responsibilities

Firmware development

Student D Responsibilities

Overall integration

Course Co-requisites

To ALL EDP Students

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, in the event University is not open for in-class/in-lab activities during the Winter term, your EDP topic specifications, requirements, implementations, and assessment methods will be adjusted by your FLCs at their discretion.