# The Latest Advances in Wireless Communication in Aviation, Wind Turbines and Bridges
## 2 Wireless Communication and Protocols' Characteristics  
The term wireless communication was first introduced in the 19 th century, while wireless communication technology was developed in the following years. This medium allows for transmitting information from one device to another. With the use of this technology, data can be sent by air without the use of cables, but also any wires, including electronic ones, replacing them with electromagnetic waves such as IR, RF, satellite-based, etc. [1]. Figure 1 shows the basics of wireless communication functioning diagram. During transmission, the encoder converts the signal to a suitable form so that it can be sent through one of the available protocols. Data encryption protects the signal. Channel encoding is  
designed to reduce interferences. Then, this signal is multiplexed with other signals. The situation is analogous on the receiving side, including demultiplexing, demodulation, channel decoding, decoding, and source decoding. This makes the task of the receiver opposite to that of the transmitter [1]. Nowadays, various types of devices use the wireless communication system, which allows the users to communicate even from areas located far away from each other. There are many devices which use wireless communication, to name but a few, mobile phones, wireless phones, Zigbee wireless technology, GPS, Wi-Fi, satellite TV and wireless computer parts. Today's wireless phones include 3/4/5G networks, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology [2]. According to [3], scientists and programming crews, including the IEEE, make every effort to implement wireless connectivity without changing existing computer equipment. As a result, there is a strong emphasis on using existing computer hardware and software to convert data into a new hardware-compatible format added to the computer using existing ports or PCMCIA connections. This means that the wireless communication will be transparent to the user. The advantages of wireless communication include the possibilities of high-speed data transfer, low cost of maintenance, and installation of these networks. Internet access can be obtained from any place wirelessly. Moreover, wireless technology offers many benefits for computers and their users, including faster response times, shorter time spent on formalities, longer online time for users, just-in-time and real-time control, and closer communication between clients and hosts. According to [3], the problems to be solved in wireless communication are:  
* Data integrity--transmission with relatively no errors,
* Speed--as close as possible to the speed of current wired networks,
* Protection--ensuring that data in the air is encoded and cannot be overheard by unwanted receivers,
* Compatibility--ensuring that many of the protocols that will certainly be created are compatible with the standard to enable interoperability,
* Environmental safety--electromagnetic radiation forces must be kept at normal levels. Figure 1: Basic diagram of wireless communication [1]. It cannot be denied that wireless communication has a number of advantages but also several disadvantages. The examples of the most common drawbacks are its safety, interference, and health effects. In the case of wireless communication systems, it is open space that is used as a medium to transmit signals. As a consequence, it is very likely that radio signals from one wireless communication system or network can interfere with other signals. A good case in point is Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (WLAN), both of which use 2.4 GHz for communication. When both are active simultaneously, there is a risk of interference. Another major threat to wireless communication is the difficulty of ensuring a high-security level for data transmission. Wireless signals that spread through the air can be easily intercepted by an unauthorized person. That is why it is critical to secure the wireless network so that unauthorized users are not able to misuse the information.