Simplified human phantoms for wireless body area network modelling

In the paper simplified human body phantoms which can be used for modeling of wireless body area networks are proposed and investigated in 2.4 GHz band. The models approximate the human body with PCV pipes filled with tap water. Due to their simplicity, proposed physical models can be easily reproduced in any laboratory at low cost. These models also have easy to prepare numerical versions. It is shown that the simplified model can be successfully used in numerical simulations of wireless body area networks as well as in measurements. In the case of path-loss simulation between antennas located on the opposite sides of the body (on-body scenario) a good agreement between the simplified and the reference model is shown. The average values obtained for 2400MHz - 2500MHz ISM band differ by ca. 3 dB, which is satisfactory for most engineering applications. Also the measurements of the path-loss for the line-of-sight transmission obstructed by the human body were conducted. The results obtained with the simplified model and the human subject show that the simplified model can be used also in other measurement scenarios than on-body. The signal attenuation values (averaged over 360 deg. of body rotation) measured with the 6 cylinder model and the human subject differ by ca. 2 dB.