A wireless network designed for cooperative mobile robotics

Today, wireless communication technologies are numerous and complementary. Nevertheless, few technologies can propose some real guaranties on timed-bounded delivery. However, such guaranty is mandatory in some application cases, like the communications between cooperating robots. Our research works plan to propose a new communication system based on IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee technology. Time-bounded message delivery is possible thanks to a deterministic radio medium access method. In this paper, the proposed medium access method is defined; it has been simulated through a specially designed simulation tool and tested on a couple of real devices. At last, the results are presented. MOTS-CLÉS: système de communication radio, IEEE 802.15.4, ZigBee, méthode d'accès au médium, qualité de service, prototypage MAC sur microcontrôleur, système de communication pour robotique mobile coopérante, méthode d'accès déterministe, réseau local industriel. © 2010 Lavoisier, Paris.