Communication during Emergencies: Arduino Wireless Communication using Radio Module

A Research Proposal
Submitted to Ma’am Genebeth Gorobao

By:
Sophia Erika Largo

January 6, 2020
Palawan National School
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

According to PUBMED, communication during disasters or emergencies is

frequently inadequate. In addition to having competent communication skills, medical

responders must have access to adequate, effective, and reliable communications equipment.

Wireless communication technologies for disaster response include radio pagers, radios,

cellular telephones, satellite communications and personal communication services.

Communication systems during disaster relief operations are crucial. The

wireless systems are expected to perform at their best in hostile conditions with limited

resources since thousands of lives are at stake. Past tragedies like the tsunami in 2011,

Hurricane Katrina have highlighted the serious flaws in the existing communication systems.

According to several statements, communication during and after a disaster is

important since it connects affected families and individuals with first responders and support

systems. Every single type of communication is important during a disaster, whether it be

satellite communications or radio modules. Radio modules are most preferable for long range

or distance communications.
 A lot of cases are reported inside or outside the Philippines due to the lack of

communication during disasters such as the crucial disaster at Puerto Rico last 2018 as

delivered by NBC News where the flaws are exposed such as lack of preparation and lack of

communication in keeping the public informed after the disaster’s aftermath.

In the Philippines, aside from the lack of access roads and infrastructure in some

conflict-affected areas and communities in relative isolation, the Philippine News furthered

reported different problems arising during a disaster such as the problem of the Philippine

Red Cross SOS cellular network when the lines are down. The inadequate effective disaster

response ensured by creating and regularly updating preparedness plans and early warning

systems. The lack of communication facilities that can withstand even disasters of Yolanda’s

magnitude and the availability of signals and cellphone in Tacloban during the super typhoon

Yolanda last 2013.

In response to these tragedies, researchers are coming up with better solutions for

wireless networks. An RF module (short for radio-frequency module) is a (usually) small

electronic device used to transmit and/or receive radio signals between two devices. In

an embedded system it is often desirable to communicate with another device wirelessly. This

wireless communication may be accomplished through optical communication or

through radio-frequency (RF) communication. For many applications, the medium of choice

is RF since it does not require line of sight. RF communications incorporate a transmitter and

a receiver. They are of various types and ranges. Some can transmit up to 500 feet. RF

modules are typically fabricated using RF CMOS technology.

 NRF24L01 is basically a wireless transceiver, which is used to send and receive data

by using radio waves. It is a single chip transceiver module. It uses SPI protocol for

transmitting data. Its data transmission speed is up to 2Mbps. It is also normally used in

industrial devices project data transmissions. wireless control applications. mesh networks

and also used in RF Remote Controllers.

Since, NRF24L01 is a transceiver, different forms or types of data can be transmitted

and received by it. One is Morse Code, which can be conveyed by dashes and dots but can

also be conveys in the wireless communication using a generic LED as blinking lights and

visual signals. In several studies using the Arduino program, Morse Code can be used in a

Radio and LASER Module as stated by Sai Suryateja since the codes or algorithms used in

the transceiver section is simpler than other algorithms.

Research Questions

This study aims to solve the problem during emergencies due to lack of

communication and determine the potential of a radio module as wireless communicator.

Specifically, the study seeks answers to the following questions:

1. What are the factors that can affect the data transmission?

2. What are the differences of the two set-ups based on the three tests conducted,

scalability, coverage and time response?

3. What is the effect of programming the radio module into transmitting Morse Code

signals to the scalability, coverage and time response of the said radio module?

Hypothesis

If we use the Radio Module nFR24L01 which we programmed into using Morse

Code to transmit data, then it will be more scalable, have more coverage, will response

faster and more useful as a wireless communication to solve the problem regarding the

lack of communications during an emergency.

Significance of the Study

Finding of this study will be deemed significant to different groups of people who

are involved in disaster relief operations and victims of different emergencies that lacks

communication.
 Local and Global Community. This may help them to keep their mind open

about the importance of communications during emergencies and disasters. It will also

help the community especially to those who lack the use of technology in

communication and may help them to send distress signals and ask for help. Thus,

thousands of human lives will be saved from crucial disasters.

Rescue Team and Operations. This may help them to rescue more human lives

due to the access in communication and lower the cases of casualties, victims and

missing persons during a disaster.

Future and Local Researchers. This will serve as their guide expanding the

content of this research for better understanding and improvements about the potential of

Radio Module nFR24L01 as a wireless communication during emergencies and disasters

Scope and Delimitations.

This study will be conducted at Palawan National School and is delimited to this

school year 2019-2020 at Puerto Princesa City.

This study focused only on solving the problem about inadequate communication

and the potential of Radio Module nFR24L01 as wireless communication during

emergencies and disasters.

Definition of Terms
Radio Module nRF24L01. The nRF24L01 is a wireless transceiver module, meaning each

module can both send as well as receive data. They operate in the frequency of 2.4GHz,

which falls under the ISM band and hence it is legal to use in almost all countries for

engineering applications. The modules when operated efficiently can cover a distance of 100

meters (200 feet) which makes it a great choice for all wireless remote controlled projects.

(retrieved from https://components101.com/wireless/nrf24l01-pinout-features-datasheet,

December, 2019).

Wireless Communication. Wireless communication involves the transmission of

information over a distance without the help of wires, cables or any other forms of electrical

conductors.

(retrieved from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/wirelesscommunicationoverview.htm,.

December, 2019).

Scalability. Scalability is a characteristic of a system, model, or function that describes its

capability to cope and perform well under an increased or expanding workload or scope.

(retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scalability.asp, December,2019).

Range. The distance or area within which reception of a radio signal or broadcast is possible

(retrieved from https://www.lexico.com/definition/radio_range, December, 2019)

Time Response. Time response of the system is defined as the output of a system when

subjected to an input which is a function of time.

(retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/ManthanKanani1/time-response-analysis-

66594438, December, 2019)