Characterizing Intra-Car Wireless Channels

This paper describes the methodology and results of a series of experiments performed to characterize intra-car wireless channels. Specifically, the experiments target parameters such as the coherence time, statistics of channel loss, and fade statistics. Based on previous experiments, flat fading is assumed; the methodology is developed, and the results are interpreted in this context. These efforts are motivated by the end goal of designing an intra-car wireless sensor network; therefore, some of the implications of results in practical design are discussed. It is found that although the in-vehicle channels exhibit a very large amount of power loss, robust system design can be achieved by utilizing the results of these experiments.