Virtually any ‘thing’ that can provide useful data can become part of the IoT. And that about sums up the Internet of Things, which promises to connect every phone, appliance, watch, auto, and anything else that shares information. Hence the IoT’s nom de plume, the Internet of Everything.
The June 2019 issue deals with “IoT + Smart Grid,” and I’d like to highlight two of those pieces, both of which deal with this fabled global network.
Telit's Marco Argenton covers the IoT and power management in “Powering the IoT – Open Standards are Catalysing the Market.”
As a network, the IoT is theoretically “unlimited in its reach and application,” and one of its most critical beneficiaries is the mobile side (or the Mobile IoT). The Mobile IoT refers to 3GPP standards like Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and Long-Term Evolution Machine Type Communications (LTE-M) technologies. Mobile IoT technology requires limited bandwidth since it doesn’t transmit continuously, but in small packets on demand.
In turn, this means a longer battery life for the deployed IoT devices like sensors and meters.
In a larger sense, these “battery power-saving capabilities are essential to the effective design and deployment of IoT networks for applications such as asset tracking, the connected city, manufacturing and remote maintenance, smart metering, transport control systems, the connected home, and wearables,” notes Marco.
Florian Haas, with Traco Power Group, takes a slightly different tack, covering “The Challenge of Powering Industrial IoT Applications.”
“The market for industrial IoT applications will continue to expand as more applications evolve, including (home) healthcare, infrastructure, utilities, home automation and smart homes, vehicle, mobility and more,” claims Florian.
And unlike consumer IoT apps, professional IoT functions have to deal with red tape.
“Safety-relevant industrial IoT applications are subject to strict regulations, both, for the engineer and for the components being used,” says Florian.
“This poses a great challenge for developers of industrial IoT applications. The use of certified, reliable and long-term available electronic components is critical, as they are often used in safety and function-critical applications,” he says.
Best Regards,
Jason Lomberg
North American Editor, PSD
