Repeater design and modeling for molecular communication networks

Abstract

Molecular communication or communication based on molecules in aqueous environments often relies on free diffusion of signal molecules where a transmitter nanomachine releases signal molecules that randomly walk in the environments to reach the receiver nanomachine. Since the signal molecules randomly walk in the three dimensional environments, the number of molecules that can reach the receiver significantly decreases over distance. A challenge in molecular communication is therefore to overcome the attenuation of molecular signals over distance. In this paper, we investigate a design of repeater nanomachines that amplify signal molecules to enable molecular communication over extended distances. The repeater nanomachines are placed between a transmitter and the receiver, where signal molecules released by the transmitter are amplified by the intermediate repeaters to reach the receiver. A specific biological model and design of molecular communication are used for designing repeaters, with simulation results showing the conditions for the repeaters to amplify, signal molecules for long distance molecular communication.