RuBee Wireless Magnetic Sensor Network & Magnetic Communication System

RuBee IEEE 1902.1 is a two way active wireless protocol that uses Long Wavelength (LW) magnetic signals to send and receive short (128 byte) data packets in a local regional network. Rubee protocol is similar to the IEEE 802 protocols which are also known as WiFi (IEEE 802.11), Zigbee, WPAN (IEEE 802.15.4) and Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), in that RuBee is networked by using on-demand peer-to-peer active radiating transceivers.

Working Principle of Rubee Wireless Protocol

RuBee uses a low frequency (131Kz), and has a wavelength of 2,289 Meters or about 1.25 miles. Unlike LF, HF or UHF RFID RuBee is an on-demand packet based protocol, similar to WiFi, Bluetooth and Zigbee. All active and passive RFID tags are transponders, and reflect radio signals for data communication. RFID tags use the same signal for timing and power.

In contrast, RuBee works as a transceiver, similar to a two way walkie-talkie but uses magnetic waves not radio waves. RuBee tags have a crystal and can keep track of time, they also have a battery and static memory. RuBee tags can also have sensors and the ability to data log or store sensor information.

Advantages of RuBee Wireless Magnetic Sensor Network Protocol

Because RuBee uses such a low frequency it does not consume much power and has a 5-years to 15-years battery life using simple Lithium coin-size batteries with a range of 1″ to 50 feet.

RuBee tags overcome many of the technological problems seen with RF near steel and water, and is field proven in harsh environments.

RuBee is safe and cost effective as the power consumption is very less.

Disadvantages of RuBee Wireless Magnetic Sensor Network Protocol

RuBee uses a low frequency (131 kHz) carrier. One result is that RuBee is slow (1,200 baud) compared to other packet based network data standards (WiFi).

Rubee Vs RFID Vs WiFi/Zigbee/Bluetooth Wireless Networks

RuBee is often confused with RFID (RFID Radio Frequency Identification). Rubee does not work like passive or active RFID, and has a protocol more in common with WiFi and Zigbee. All passive and active RFID protocols use what is known as backscattered transmission mode. Passive and active RFID tags act like a mirror, and work as reflective transponders. In contrast RuBee, similar to WiFi and Zibee in that it is peer-to-peer, is a networked transceiver that actually transmits a data signal on demand, but is much slower (6-8 two way packets per second). The main difference between RuBee and WiFi or Zigbee is that RuBee works in the long wavelength band using the magnetic field, whereas typically WiFi and Zigbee works in the VHF, UHF or SHF bands and with the electric field.

RuBee is bidirectional, on-demand, and peer-to-peer. It can operate at other frequencies (e.g. 450 kHz) but 131 kHz is optimal. RuBee tags can have sensors (temperature, humidity, jog), optional displays and may have a full 4 bit microprocessor with static memory. The RuBee protocol uses an IP Address (Internet Protocol Address).