RADIO FREQUENCY-BASED REPEATER IN A WAVEGUIDE SYSTEM

A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of nodes (68a, 68b) distributed throughout the machine. Each of the nodes (68a, 68b) is operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals (86). A controller (66) is operable to communicate with the network of nodes (68a, 68b) through the electromagnetic signals (86). The system also includes a plurality of waveguides (10-73; 202, 203) configured to guide transmission of the electromagnetic signals (86) between the controller (66) and one or more of the nodes (68a, 68b). A radio frequency-based repeater (76) is coupled to at least two of the waveguides (72, 72; 202, 203) in the network between the controller (66) and at least one of the nodes (68a, 68b). The radio frequency-based repeater (76) is configured to receive a portion of the electromagnetic signals (86) in a first waveguide (72; 202) and boost a transmission characteristic of the portion of the electromagnetic signals (86) in a second waveguide