Visible Light Communication for Toys and the Internet-of-Things
Abstract
Visible Light Communication (VLC) with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as transmitters and receivers enables low bitrate wireless adhoc networking, which is an interesting new approach for toys and related applications in the entertainment industry. LED-to-LED VLC adhoc networks with VLC devices communicating with each other over free-space optical links typically achieve a throughput of a few kilobit per second at distances of no more than ten meters. LED-to-LED VLC adhoc networks are useful for combining light bulbs and illumination with low-complex networking. In this talk, we present recent research achievements at Disney Research, address open challenges, and demonstrate the performance of our software-based VLC physical layer and a VLC medium access control layer that retain the simplicity of the LED-to-LED approach.
Presenter
Stefan Mangold is senior research scientist at Disney Research in Zurich, Switzerland. As an Imagineer of The Walt Disney Company, Stefan has been guiding a small team that contributes to Disney Research’s work on wireless communication and mobile computing. Before joining Disney in 2009, Stefan worked at Swisscom, Bern, Switzerland, and Philips Research, USA. His research covers many aspects of wireless communication, for example, protocols and system aspects for wireless LAN, visible light communication, and the Internet-of-Things. Other research interests include smart toys and play patterns, and magical experience designs for the entertainment industry. Stefan teaches a course at ETH Zurich, publishes, and generates IPR in related areas.