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Tag: industrial IoT

  • Inmarsat: Ag accelerates IoT adoption in response to COVID-19

    Inmarsat: Ag accelerates IoT adoption in response to COVID-19

    Image: William_Potter/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Image: William_Potter/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    New Inmarsat research reveals a rapid increase in levels of industrial IoT maturity in 2021, with agricultural businesses accelerating IoT adoption in response to COVID-19

    Research by Inmarsat, a global mobile satellite communications company, reveals a rapid increase in the maturity level of the industrial internet of things (IoT) across the agricultural sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 86% of ag business accelerating or intending to accelerate deployment.

    Respondents in the report, “Industrial IoT in the Time of COVID-19,” include crop producers, OEMs, service providers and livestock businesses, who report that COVID-19 demonstrated the importance of IoT to their businesses.

    According to the research, adoption has seen huge progress from 2020 to 2021, with automation and cost savings the greatest drivers. Four-fifths (80%) of agricultural respondents have now fully deployed at least one IoT project, with 53% having achieved this in the 12-month period from the second quarter of 2020. Of the remaining 20% of agricultural respondents that have not yet adopted IoT in any form, all of them are either currently trialing it, or plan to deploy or trial at least one IoT project in the next two years.

    Chart: Inmarsat
    Chart: Inmarsat

    A further 86% of agricultural respondents indicated they have or they intend to accelerate the adoption of IoT in response to challenges related to COVID-19. This figure includes 46% who have already accelerated IoT adoption to respond to COVID-19, versus 29% who will accelerate over the next 12 months and 11% who will accelerate beyond the next 12 months.

    The 46% that have already accelerated IoT adoption are less likely to state that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their ability to operate, demonstrating a link between IoT and business continuity during the pandemic. Additionally, more than half (60%) of respondents in the sector indicated that business and operational challenges related to COVID-19 have underlined the importance of IoT.

    “We have seen agricultural producers take on more and more solutions that allow them to operate remotely, from autonomous irrigation control to the latest precision farming technologies, demonstrating increased faith in the technology,” said Steven Tompkins, Director of Market Development at Inmarsat.

    As part of the research, Inmarsat is offering businesses the opportunity to measure their IoT readiness compared to the respondents in the survey, using their free IoT maturity tool.

  • Topnet Live GNSS network expands to meet digitalization demands

    Topnet Live GNSS network expands to meet digitalization demands

    Topnet Live has increased types of correction services and subscription options. (Image: Topcon)
    Topnet Live has increased types of correction services and subscription options. (Image: Topcon)

    Topcon Positioning Group has expanded its Topnet Live GNSS network of correction solutions to support today’s work environments. The global network now has more types of correction services and subscription options.

    This growth is a result of the increasing demand for digitalization in various industries including construction, surveying, machine control, and agriculture.

    The flexible service options include Realpoint, the real-time kinematic (RTK) service, and Starpoint, a precise point positioning (PPP) service. The different services have varying delivery methods, coverage and reliable centimeter-level accuracy. Under a flexible subscription model, customers can purchase to suit their needs.

    Additionally, Skybridge — an RTK service supported by PPP — is available to maintain connectivity and productivity if the customer temporarily leaves RTK coverage.

    “The Topnet Live RTK network, first established over a decade ago, continues to grow with 5,100 reference stations globally, a 14% increase in the last year,” said Ian Stilgoe, Topcon vice president. “We are growing throughout the world in areas where there is an increasing demand for productivity and accuracy through digitalization, with strong growth particularly in North America and Europe. We are focused on continued expansion to maximize support for our customers, so they always have the best options globally.”

    Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) supplying automotive, industrial Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous robotics and all sectors that require positioning, navigation and guidance also benefit from the enhanced robustness of the network. OEMs can sell their hardware with correction services onboard and preconfigured for immediate use by customers, regardless of geographic location, with flexible subscription and licensing options to suit the exact need.

    Topnet Live uses all four GNSS constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou. The customer benefits from continuous accuracy and always-on service coverage. This service provides these distinct advantages in the industries it supports:

    • Survey, construction and machine control. Topnet Live removes the need for individual base stations, dramatically increasing flexibility, productivity and safety and can drive large-scale projects with constant, reliable accuracy.
    • Precision agriculture. The solution delivers fast, consistent, accurate positioning at any time day or night for soil preparation, seeding, spreading, spraying and harvesting.
    • OEMs, system integrators, product designers. The solution provides scalable precise positioning and supports the implementation of flexible business models tailored to fit both OEMs’ and their customers’ needs.
  • IoT kit ready for heavy workloads

    IoT kit ready for heavy workloads

    logoCongatec is offering a workload consolidation kit for vision-based situational awareness applications such as machine control and vision-based collaborative robotics.

    The kit qualifies as an Intel internet of things (IoT) ready-for-production kit. It offers three virtual machines based on the hypervisor technology from Real-Time Systems.

    One runs a vision-based artificial intelligence application based on the Intel OpenVino situational awareness software. The second is real-time capable and operates deterministic control software, and the third acts as an industrial IoT/Industry 4.0 gateway.

  • 5G module with GNSS released by Sierra Wireless

    5G module with GNSS released by Sierra Wireless

    With support for mmWave, Sub-6 GHz and LTE, Sierra Wireless modules will enable original equipment manufacturers to securely deploy 5G worldwide

    Photo: Sierra Wireless
    Photo: Sierra Wireless

    Sierra Wireless is now offering its EM919x 5G NR Sub-6 GHz and mmWave embedded modules, which include an integrated GNSS receiver.

    Based on the industry-standard M.2 form factor, the 5G modules will enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to deploy secure connectivity worldwide at the highest possible speeds with ultra-low latency for mobile computing, routers, gateways, industrial automation, and many new Industrial IoT applications.

    With support for mmWave, sub-6 GHz and LTE, as defined by the 3GPP Release 15 standard, Sierra Wireless’ 5G modules will power next-generation devices that deliver high-bandwidth, low-latency applications.

    Applications for the module include private networks, enterprise networking, edge processing, live streaming, video security, e-gaming, smart factories, robotics, drones, virtual reality and machine learning.

    Allied Telesis, Dynabook, LiveU, NEC Personal Computers and Panasonic are among the OEMs designing their 5G platform to launch with Sierra Wireless’ EM919x modules.

    Module versions available

    The EM9190 5G NR Sub-6 GHz and mmWave embedded module delivers high 5G speeds. Along with the GNSS receiver, the module has automatic 4G and 3G fallback and FCC certification for CBRS networks to provides reliability, security and flexibility for Industrial IoT designs.

    The EM9191 5G NR Sub-6 GHz module is also available in M.2 form factor, providing a simple upgrade path to mmWave, as well as the EM7690 LTE Cat-20 module to help facilitate the migration and differentiation between 4G LTE and 5G.

    Sierra Wireless’ EM919x modules are built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System.

    “5G is the most technically challenging evolution in the history of wireless, particularly because of the introduction of mmWave,” said Larry Zibrik, Vice President, 5G & Embedded Broadband, Sierra Wireless. “Sierra Wireless has delivered industry-leading embedded modules, beginning with the first generation of cellular data technologies, and we’re the only partner with the experience to help our customers navigate the complexities of 5G. Industry leaders trust Sierra Wireless to help them get to market on time with secure 5G connectivity, and to invest in the expertise required to enable future key features, such as dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) and 5G NR standalone mode for even higher performance.”

    “Sierra Wireless has been our trusted partner for integrating new mobile broadband technologies for many years. Now working with the EM919x for 5G, our next-generation 5G platform for mobile computing is processing on schedule, and our team can rely on Sierra Wireless’ leading technology and expert support to help manage the challenges that come with new technologies,” said Norimasa Nakamura, Executive Officer Product Development & Engineering, Dynabook Inc.

    “Our latest generation of products has been designed to work with Sierra Wireless’ EM919x to unlock 5G potential and deliver superior video and audio capabilities with mission-critical transmission,” said Yaki Luzon, VP R&D, LiveU. “Sierra Wireless helps us ensure that LiveU is at the forefront of 5G technology for the broadcast and sports industries.”

    “Sierra Wireless has been a trusted partner helping NEC bring new broadband technologies to market for many years,” said Yasuhisa Ito, Director of NEC R&D, NEC Personal Computers. “We’re pleased with how our work with Sierra Wireless’ EM9191/Sub-6 GHz is progressing on our next-generation 5G platform for mobile computing and look forward to providing unprecedented performance with our new 5G products.”

    “5G is a completely new technology, and it will require a significant amount of effort from all parts of ecosystem to roll out,” said James Brehm, Founder & Chief Technology Evangelist, James Brehm & Associates. “Sierra Wireless’ long-standing position as an industry leader, and its relationships with carriers, infrastructure providers and chipset manufacturers will be an advantage for helping their OEM customers get to market on time and troubleshoot the teething issues we expect with new technologies. Working with Sierra Wireless significantly de-risks the process and speeds time to market for its partners. Sierra Wireless is the go-to partner for complex new technology launches.”

    For more information on the modules, Sierra Wireless offers these resources:

    Feature Image: KENGKAT/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

  • PCTEL announces Trooper II antenna for public safety

    PCTEL announces Trooper II antenna for public safety

    PCTEL Inc. has announced the next generation of its Trooper antenna, the company’s flagship multi-band platform for public safety fleets.

    The new Trooper II provides optimal wireless communications performance through the antenna’s 4-port 4G LTE connections and 4×4 802.11ac Wi-Fi MIMO capability, the company said. It also incorporates PCTEL’s newest high rejection multi-GNSS technology for high precision tracking and asset management.

    The Trooper II antenna. (Photo: PCTEL)
    The Trooper II antenna. (Photo: PCTEL)

    “The Trooper II antenna enhances PCTEL’s successful Trooper platform, with expanded multi-band RF and GNSS capability in a robust, aerodynamic housing,” said Rishi Bharadwaj, senior vice president and general manager of PCTEL’s Connected Solutions group. “Its slender new design with a single cable exit accommodates installation restrictions often encountered on modern public safety vehicles.”

    “Our Trooper antennas have been broadly deployed on public safety fleets, notably in support of  the leading FirstNet public safety broadband network systems. The Trooper II is also ideal for many Industrial IoT deployments,” Bharadwaj added.

    The rugged Trooper II (part #GL9X1AX-TRB) features PCTEL’s new proprietary high rejection multi-band technology, which supports GPS L1, GLONASS and Galileo for high precision tracking.

    In addition to public safety applications, the antenna is suitable for tracking and communications support for industrial internet of things (IoT) and other fleet management applications, including farming tractors for precision agriculture, utility service fleets and railway positive train control systems.

    PCTEL will display the Trooper II antenna Aug. 6-7 at APCO 2018, Booth 1719, along with its portfolio of antennas for the public safety industry and grid testing solution for in-building public safety networks.

    The Trooper II antenna is available for pre-order now. First shipments are expected in early fall.