Can Be Applied for Bluetooth Low Energy to i-construction? : Characterization of BLE on Excavator

Abstract

The Government of Japan has declared that construction sites must implement i-construction, in which information communication technology (ICT) is used to improve construction site productivity and throughput. Examples of i-construction include remote and automatic control systems for construction machinery, for which wireless communication is generally required; however, the wireless characteristics that must be considered in i-construction remain unclear. To clarify these characteristics, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon module is implemented for construction machines, and we investigate its communication characteristics. We focussed on two evaluations: characterisation of the BLE unit module and its feasibility in i-construction. Experimental results were used to characterise BLE communication in a residential area and construction site. In the latter, BLE beacon module communication was possible between a sender located in an excavator attachment and a receiver in its cabin.