Smart IoT sensors – LPWAN Technology

LPWAN Technology for Smart IoT sensors

A sensor is an electronic part or subsystem used for detecting modifications or events within its environment. A computer processor is one good example of sensor technology, also touch-sensitive elevator buttons known as tactile sensors. This innovation had an immense effect in the realm of data and innovation and almost every field or industry is utilizing it for efficiency and progress.

Let’s understand about sensors and their fundamentals.

Technology is not only for the design process however is becoming an integral part of Landscape Architecture Design. Sensors represent a great potential to augment feasible design and behavior for environmental monitoring. They can be utilized for a wide variety of sustainable design applications.

Significant Applications zone where sensors do a critical job:

• Aerospace & Defense
• Automotive & transportation
• Health-care instruments
• Agriculture instruments
• Industrial automation
• Building automation
• Consumer electronics
• Other applications

In the era of the Internet of Things, these conventional sensors become connected, smart, and more actionable. These enhanced featured IoT sensors market is forecasted to reach more than 85B USD before the end of 2024.

Major Sensors types:

• Flow sensor
• Humidity sensor
• Position sensor
• Pressure sensor
• Acceleration sensor
• Temperature sensor
• Other Types

Sensors become one of the most important and broadly utilized parts in the various applications which creates a revolution in our living lifestyle. This demand converts into the deployment of a huge number of IoT sensors in the world. It requires dealing with difficulties to deal with an enormous number of sensors ecosystem systems with better sustainability.

Main challenges to create sustainable sensor network:

• Low power operation (Probably battery operated)
• Low-cost solution
• Compact form factor
• Minimum (Zero) maintenance
• Easy to deploy without any technical expertise

This is when LPWAN innovation comes into the picture, LPWAN stands for Low Power Wide Area Network. The underneath list covers a large portion of LPWAN advancements which are generally utilized in the Smart IoT world.

LPWA technology:

• Sigfox
• LoRa
• Weightless
• Wize
• LTE-M
• NB-IoT

An individual detailed description of each technology may need a number of articles so let’s have a brief idea for each.

1. Sigfox: Sigfox is a French global network operator founded in 2009 that builds wireless networks to connect low power sensors. It uses a narrowband or ultra-narrow band on the ISM radio band. Sigfox employs differential binary phase-shift keying (DBPSK) and Gaussian shift keying (GFSK) modulation techniques.
2. LoRa: LoRa (Long Range) is low power wide area network technology managed by founding members of LoRa Alliance. LoRa uses license-free sub-gigahertz radio frequency bands like 433 MHz, 868 MHz (Europe), and 915 MHz (Australia and North America). It is based on the spread spectrum modulation technique derived from the chirp spread spectrum (CSS).
3. Weightless: Weightless is managed by the Weightless SIG (Special Interest Group). It operates in global licensed and unlicensed ISM frequencies. It uses standard GMSK and offset-QPSK modulation techniques.
4. Wize: Wize is managed by the Wize Alliance. It brings together public & private sector operators, manufacturers of electronic components, integrators, start-ups, and academics. It works on 169 MHz Long Range frequency. It is one of the most effective when it is difficult connecting hard to access objects/sensors.
5. LTE-M: LTE-M is the abbreviation for category M1 in LTE (4G). This technology uses a 4G network to connect between cloud and sensors. It consumes approx. 100 Kbits/s maximum data bandwidth which doesn’t affect the 4G network as much and provides a low-cost solution.
6. NB-IoT: NB-IoT is an LPWAN radio technology standard developed by 3GPP. It is enabling a wide range of cellular devices and services. With direct connectivity with the cloud, it can easily cover indoor devices at low-cost. To transfer low rate data easily, it sues Narrowband of the LTE network.

Depends on application and technology used, LPWAN technology provides great advantages as below:

• Quality in services
• Battery life and Latency
• Scalability & efficient Payload-length
• Network coverage & range
• Competent deployment model
• Optimized cost

We develop solutions for different markets, including consumer electronics, wearable gadgets, and the Internet of Things. Our industry specialists are consistently anxious to assist you with your revolutionary ideas. Get in touch with Us for the customized IoT solutions.

– By Bhavdipsinh Rathod