PhD Position F/M Data capture and collection by energy-free sensors and ultra-low power transmission in hostile environments

The  Inria University of Lille centre, created in 2008, employs 360 people  including 305 scientists in 15 research teams. Recognised for its strong  involvement in the socio-economic development of the Hauts-De-France  region, the Inria University of Lille centre pursues a close  relationship with large companies and SMEs. By promoting synergies  between researchers and industrialists, Inria participates in the  transfer of skills and expertise in digital technologies and provides  access to the best European and international research for the benefit  of innovation and companies, particularly in the region.For more  than 10 years, the Inria University of Lille centre has been located at  the heart of Lille's university and scientific ecosystem, as well as at  the heart of Frenchtech, with a technology showroom based on Avenue de  Bretagne in Lille, on the EuraTechnologies site of economic excellence  dedicated to information and communication technologies (ICT).

In recent years, the deterioration of our pavements and bridges has accelerated as a result of ageing structures, climate change and the increase in the authorised load of heavy goods vehicles. A number of initiatives are being put in place to better measure this deterioration and anticipate the need for road infrastructure maintenance.

Through their joint ROAD-AI project, Inria and Cerema are jointly studying digital tools for modelling these phenomena using structural instrumentation. This initiative is complemented and reinforced by the SIRCAPASS project coordinated by SilMach, which aims to use a new passive sensor technology for this instrumentation.

It is within the framework of these projects that the subject of this thesis falls, the aim of which is to design wireless communication protocols that will enable efficient data collection with minimal energy consumption.

Data collection is at the heart of the integrated management of road infrastructures and engineering structures. However, by definition, this data is collected in highly restrictive environments (e.g. reduced accessibility, absence of electrical and communication networks, etc.), or even hostile environments (e.g. weather conditions, luminosity, humidity, etc.). The sensors are all different in nature, with potentially heterogeneous dimensions, sensitivity and means of communication, providing data that is heterogeneous in size, type and frequency of acquisition.

The aim will be to design a communication protocol that meets the needs of data collection by the sensors and command feedback, regardless of the area in which they are deployed, while consuming as little energy as possible. This protocol will have to take into account the application constraints of physical deployment (accessibility, radio environment, possibility of power supply or recovery of ambient energy) and adapt dynamically to the type of data (scalar, image, etc.) and its operational needs (alert vs. monitoring).

The energy consumption associated with data transmission is impacted by the choice of radio technology used, the quantity of data transmitted and the transmission power (and therefore the distances over which the data is transmitted). The communication protocol studied will focus on layers 2 (access to the medium) and 3 (routing) and will adapt these different parameters dynamically to meet application requirements (in terms of latency, delay, throughput, etc.) which vary from one type of data to another, with minimum energy consumption.

Particular attention will be paid to quantifying the energy efficiency of the data capture, collection, transmission and processing methodologies in relation to the targeted operational objectives.

M1-M6: Study of different data collection scenarios. For each scenario, the aim will be to define the architecture envisaged (star or multi-hop network), its feasibility and to characterise the various data to be collected or downlinked (type, volume, frequency, QoS requirements, etc), highlighting the advantages and disadvantages or technical difficulties of each.
M6-M12: Comparisons of several strategies, evaluated by simulation and emulation (including field data and traces in the simulations).
M6-M12: The doctoral student will study the literature on communication protocols with an agility similar to that required in the SIRCAPASS scenarios.

At the end of the first year, one or more scenarios will be selected, guiding the studies to be carried out on the design of communication protocols. Students will be familiarised with the business and technical constraints.

M12-M18: Design of a first version of the SIRCAPASS communication protocol.

M18-M20: Implementation of the solution and initial laboratory evaluations. Revision of the protocol according to the results of the evaluation.

M20-M32: Implementation and experimentation in the field. Continuous revision of the protocol according to the results of the evaluation.

M32-M36: Finalising and writing the thesis report.

• Knowledge in wireless networks and edge computing
• English speaking
• Autonomy
• Open minded
• Team working
• Capacity to write English reports and papers
• Sense of organization, autonomy, rigor

• Subsidized meals
• Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
• Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
• Possibility of teleworking and flexible organization of working hours
• Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
• Social, cultural and sports events and activities
• Access to vocational training
• Social security coverage