Robotic-aided IoT: Automated deployment of a 6TiSCH network using an UGV

The automated setup of Internet of things (IoT) systems in industrial environments is an open challenge at the forefront of networking and robotics domains. In this study, a robotic-aided deployment system is proposed and experimentally tested with reference to the Internet protocol version 6 technology. To this end, a design methodology has been conceived to attain the setup of a fully connected time-slotted channel hopping network in a target area, based on the measured received signal strength indication of wireless links, required spatial sensing resolution, and number of available IoT nodes. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, an experimental test bed has been set up, consisting of an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that automatically deploys an IoT network in a laboratory environment. Experimental results clearly show that the UGV is able to deploy a fully connected 6TiSCH network that match spatial resolution requirements, highlighting how the proposed policy affects the position of IoT nodes release points.