A6.1 - New generation of smart-sensor WLANs
- Event
- ETTC 2026 - European Test and Telemetry Conference
2026-06-09 - 2026-06-11
Nuremberg - Chapter
- Networks & Data Aquisition
- Author(s)
- Z. Kiss - Endrich Bauelemente Vertriebs GmbH, Nagold (Germany)
- Pages
- 98 - 106
- DOI
- 10.5162/ettc2026/A6.1
- Price
- free
Abstract
Modern smart sensor systems are increasingly connected through well-established communication philosophies such as cellular IoT and Wi-Fi. These technologies offer clear advantages where infrastructure, bandwidth, and direct cloud access are available. However, many industrial, environmental, and large-area sensing applications require a different approach: low-power, longlasting, self-forming sensor wireless local area networks that can operate reliably without dense infrastructure. This presentation discusses the technical and economic advantages of distributed sensor WLAN architectures such as NeoMesh. By using signal-friendly sub-GHz frequency bands and, where necessary, error-resilient modulation schemes such as LoRa within a local mesh network, node-to-node communication distances can be significantly extended while maintaining very low energy consumption. Such systems open new perspectives for robust, scalable sensor networks capable of covering large areas with thousands of nodes, while still meeting the strict European duty-cycle requirements. The paper compares point-to-point, multipoint-to-point, and distributed mesh communication technologies, highlighting their operational principles, scalability limits, energy behavior, and economic impact. Special attention is given to operational safety, reliability, data availability, and security-related aspects in realworld deployments. The goal is to provide a practical decision framework: when cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is the right choice, and when a distributed mesh sensor network provides superior performance, lifetime, coverage, and cost efficiency. The presentation positions smart sensor WLANs not as a replacement for existing technologies, but as a complementary architecture for the next generation of resilient industrial sensor networks.