A Machine Learning Approach to Wireless Propagation Modeling in Industrial Environment

Wireless channel properties in industrial environments can differ from residential or office settings due to the considerable impact of heavy machinery that triggers intricate multipath propagation effects and strong blockage effects. Previous investigations on wireless propagation in factories often consisted of empirical models, that is simple analytical formulas based on measurement data. Unfortunately, they usually lack in flexibility, since they seldom include geometrical parameters describing the industrial scenario and therefore turn out reliable only in industrial scenarios sharing the same propagation characteristics as those where the measurements were performed. In response to this limitation, this article harnesses the power of Machine Learning to model propagation markers like path loss, shadowing, and delay spread in the industrial environment. By employing Machine Learning techniques, the objective is to achieve flexibility and adaptability in modeling, enabling the system to effectively generalize across diverse industrial scenarios. The proposed model relies on a combination of predictive algorithms, including a linear regression model and a Multi-Layer Perceptron, working collaboratively to model the relationship between the considered propagation markers and input features like frequency and machine size, spacing, and density. Results are in fair overall agreement with previous studies and highlight some trends about the sensitivity of the propagation parameters to the considered input features.