Communication-Aware Deployment for Intelligent Unmanned Systems: Sparklink vs. Bluetooth

Abstract

For intelligent unmanned systems in complex indoor-outdoor environments, maintaining stable shortrange wireless links is as critical as perception and control algorithms. The through-wall penetration capability and effective coverage distance directly determine the reliability of real-time data transmission. This paper focuses on two low-power short-range wireless communication technologies: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 5.2) and SparkLink Low Energy (SLE). We conducted tests to evaluate the impact of different distances in Line-of-Sight (LOS) scenarios and various wall obstructions in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) scenarios on signal attenuation, transmission rate, and packet loss rate. Experimental results show that in LOS scenarios, SLE's transmission rate at 7.8m and 54m is approximately 36 times and 34 times that of BLE at the same distances, respectively. In NLOS scenarios, SLE maintains relatively stable communication even after passing through a load-bearing wall, whereas BLE's bit error rate fluctuates between 10% and 40%. Based on the measured data, we have generated coverage heatmaps for typical household layouts, providing quantitative insights for the planning and deployment of low-power wireless networks in complex indoor environments.