Evaluation of a Multi-Molecule Molecular Communication Testbed Based on Spectral Sensing

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel spectral sensing-based multi-molecule molecular communication testbed that enables real-time multi-molecule transmission, achieving up to 3 bits per second with simple detection methods, and provides a foundation for future advanced MC research.

Contribution

It presents a new flow-based MC testbed using spectral sensing for multi-molecule transmission, including an estimator and analytical model, facilitating complex coding and resource strategies.

Findings

Achieves up to 3 bits per second data rate.

Demonstrates near-error-free communication with simple detection.

Validates spectral sensing-based estimation with channel measurements.

Abstract

This work presents a novel flow-based molecular communication (MC) testbed using spectral sensing and ink intensity estimation to enable real-time multi-molecule (MUMO) transmission. MUMO communication opens up crucial opportunities for increased throughput as well as implementing more complex coding, modulation, and resource allocation strategies for MC testbeds. An estimator using non-invasive spectral sensing at the receiver is proposed based on a simple absorption model. We conduct in-depth channel impulse response (CIR) measurements and a preliminary communication performance evaluation. Additionally, a simple analytical model is used to check the consistency of the CIRs. The results indicate that by utilizing MUMO transmission, on-off-keying, and a simple difference detector, the testbed can achieve up to 3 bits per second for near-error-free communication, which is on par with comparable testbeds that utilize more sophisticated coding or detection methods. Our platform lays the ground for implementing MUMO communication and evaluating various physical layer and networking techniques based on multiple molecule types in future MC testbeds in real time.