Enhancing LoRa-based network architecture for military vehicle testing using LoRaWAN and local data redundancy

Reliable communication is essential in military vehicle testing, particularly for evaluating integrated vehicular systems under dynamic and challenging conditions. This study proposes a LoRaWAN-based communication system featuring centralized network management, end-to-end encryption, and local microSD card redundancy to address the limitations of previous LoRa-only solutions. Experiments were conducted on two types of military vehicles, specifically a light open-body tactical vehicle and a light armored personnel carrier, each equipped with two sensor nodes. Testing was performed in both controlled facility and rugged hilly terrain environments. Communication performance was quantitatively evaluated by measuring packet delivery ratio (PDR), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), as well as calculating path loss and link budget. In controlled environments, open-body vehicles achieved PDR values ranging from 57.75% to 61.81% (RSSI: -40 to -41 dBm, SNR: 8.10 to 8.11 dB), while armored vehicles recorded lower PDRs of 36.65% to 38.68% (RSSI: -45.67 to -50.29 dBm, SNR: 4.67 to 6.28 dB). In hilly terrain, open body vehicles reached PDR values of 88.21% to 92.45% (RSSI: -64 to -69 dBm, SNR: 5.98 to 7.26 dB), and armored vehicles achieved PDR values of 82.56% to 98.95% (RSSI: -72 to -73 dBm, SNR: 0.15 to 3.51 dB). These results demonstrate that both vehicle design and environmental conditions substantially affect LoRaWAN communication reliability. The proposed system improves data resilience in the presence of transmission failures and supports the deployment of robust and temporary wireless networks for military vehicle testing.