Summary
| Mentor(s): | Dr. Mike Murphy Dr. Paul Poteete |
|---|---|
| Project Type: | Software development and engineering; user interface design; radio communications |
| Technologies: | Python, Qt (PySide 6 and Qt Designer), LoRa hardware, Git |
| Undergraduate Credit: | CSCI 399, CSCI 490 |
| Graduate Credit: | IST 659, 799 (Thesis) LoRa adapter(s) and Linux machine(s) may be required. |
| Locality: | Main campus and/or remote |
Purpose
LoRa is a radio communication method for sending short messages at a distance of several kilometers using the unlicensed 915 MHz radio band. LoRa USB adapters (and Raspberry Pi HATs) are available at low cost, enabling easy access. During an emergency situation, LoRa could be used to communicate via text messaging in a local area when cell service is unavailable. Unlike amateur (ham) radio, LoRa users do not need a license. Also, it is conceivably possible to make a LoRa-equipped communication device that uses less power than commercially available ham radios.
Several proof-of-concept chat applications can be found by means of an Internet search. However, in order to gain experience interfacing with LoRa hardware directly, it would be desirable to create a dedicated application and perform tests to evaluate the effective practical range and determine suitable use cases. For our purposes, we cannot assume that an existing mesh network of other LoRa devices will be available.
Scope of Work
Implement a simple chat application for LoRa, which interfaces with a LoRa adapter at the lowest practical layer (in other words, no mesh network or relay should be required). Establish point-to-point communications between two LoRa devices. Put an increasing amount of distance between devices under realistic conditions (trees, buildings, hills, etc.) to measure practical range limits without a mesh.
At the graduate level, the scope relates to the extent of the project. A secure, end-to-end-encrypted (E2EE) chat application that provably works over LoRa would be reasonable for a capstone project (IST 659). Measuring reception distances and identifying reasonable use cases in a disaster scenario based on the distance results would be appropriate for a thesis (IST 799).
Related Research
Other long-range, license-free communications technologies exist, such as DASH7 and IEEE 802.11ah. Hardware suitable for these alternative techniques is not as readily available at the time of this writing, but comparative studies between these technologies would be interesting if the necessary hardware can be obtained. Other techniques, such as using WiFi with a long-range directional antenna, might also be compared and evaluated.