Evaluating 2-D grid interpolation techniques for predicting ambient RF power density in automobile factories

This paper evaluates the suitability of existing 2-D interpolation techniques to estimate RF power density levels within an automobile manufacturing plant in the UK. This analysis is based on a measurement campaign carried out at five locations within the plant. Using widely accepted interpolation techniques, a power density grid that provides an estimate of power density distribution for the plant can be created. The interpolation techniques evaluated are: Inverse distance weighting, Kriging and Spline. The analytical results showed that the Kriging technique was more suitable for estimating power density across the entire band (0.2 GHz - 3 GHz). Using the power density grid obtained, an energy profile for a pallet traveling in a predefined production loop was estimated. As a result, it becomes essential to carefully select the estimation technique to adopt, particularly when the measurement dispersion points are sparse.