Internet of Things and smart mobility

Dr. Martin Donoval

POWERTEC ltd.

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

…the development story of

IoT on the groundIoT in the air

What is IoT ?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring or human-to-computer interaction.

Internet of People

Before:

Internet of Things

Now:

• 1990s - first LPWANs (e.g. AlarmNet)

• 2010s - need to connect thousands of low-data rate low-power devices(industrial, medical, ...) to the Internet

• Sigfox (2012), LoRaWAN (2015), NB-IoT (2016), LTE-cat M (2017), 5G (??)

…the Internet of Things will be the largest device market in the world. It is estimated that yet by 2020 it will be more than double the size of the smartphone, PC, tablet, connected car, and the wearable market combined

History

• Low data rate

• Security

• Duty cycle restrictions in ISM band

• Trade-off between data rate, range and power consumption

• Interference between LPWANs

• Long range

• Low-power

• Robustness

• Price

• 10,000s of devices per access point

Advantages Disadvantages

Drivers and drawbacks of IoT

Parking sensor

Target: inexpensive, fully integrated solution for use in the roadway, fully compatible with LPWAN radio technology to enable long range and low power consumption.

• Low-cost IoT solution for parking• Low power consumption• Long-life battery• Super-easy installation• Full integration into surface• No need for demanding installation infrastructure

IoT on the ground

• Compact size, easy installation

• Long battery life

• Wide temperature range

• Waterproof

• Reliable vehicle detection

Magnetic sensitivity

Sample rate

Signal processing

• Wireless transmission from under the ground level even with a vehicle parked above

• User interface during installation

IoT on the ground

Installation and design challenges

• Hermetic casing -polyethylene tube casing with welded caps

• MEMS magnetic field sensor

• High energy density, temperature stability

• Custom designed directional patch antenna

• Activation by daylight, LED signalization

+ Small diameter+ Simple design- Insufficient battery life at higher sample rates- Step down converter does not compensate battery voltage drop- Weak wireless signal with onboard antenna (on the rear side of PCB)

+ Matched antenna = better signal+ Added buck/boost converter for radio = compensated voltage drop+ Added low power LDO for MCU and magnetometer+ Larger battery capacity- Vehicle detection from adjacent parking spots- Weak signal

+ Magnetometer moved to bottom of PCB = less false detections from adjacent spots+ Powerful directional antenna+ More precise magnetometer+ Better signal processing algorithm- Slightly larger diameter of cap

IoT on the ground

Device evolution

17200 mAh Lithium ThionylChloride Battery

PCB

Translucent cap

Ceramic patch antenna

Optimal positioning of parking sensor

IoT on the ground

The ease of installation

Filling of the opening with the polyurethane sealant

Technical specificationDimensions 35 mm diameter / 160 mm heightPower supply Built-in Lithium batteries; 3,6V; 17 200 mAhProtection / Detection Waterproof IP68 / MagneticMounting Fully hidden in the floorOperating temperature -30 to +80°COperating frequency LoRa / Sigfox 868 MHzExpected lifetime > 7 years

IoT on the ground

Variometer - be effective and visible

Target: small and cost effective vario-altimeter solution for paragliding and hang-gliding pilots (of unnamed aerial vehicles – UAV), full on-board computer, staying visible to other pilots, provide new network functionalities

• Low power consumption• Trans-reflexive display• Network connection• Intuitive use• Small size

IoT in the air

FLARM (2004)

● Used for- General aviation, small powered aircrafts- Helicopters- Gliders - primary platform- Hang gliders / paragliders as beacons only

● Features- Traffic awareness- Collision avoidance- Obstacle database- Track logging

● Technology- 868 MHz nrf905- range 3km (10km PowerFLARM)- transmit device address, position, altitude

and vertical speed- encrypted proprietary protocol

FANET - Flying Ad-hoc (IoT) Network (2015)

● Used primary for- Hang Gliders- Paragliders

● Airborne usage- Traffic awareness- Live tracking- Emergency transmitter- Messaging

● Ground usage

- Internet gateways

- Weather info from automated stations

- Landmarks and landing patterns

● Technology- 868/915 MHz sx1272- multi-hop ad hoc network- transmit device address, position, altitude,

speed, climb, turn rate ...- free and open protocol

Variometer - be effective and visible

IoT in the air

OGN - Open Glider network (2015)

● Unified tracking platform- collecting data from own SDR stations

and other data sources

● Support- FLARM- OGN trackers- PilotAware- SPOT- FANET- Spidertracks

● Technology- 868 MHz - rfm69W

IoT in the air

Variometer - be effective and visible

● Precise climb rate● GPS logging● Simple navigation● Bluetooth connectivity for

telemetry transfer● Wind speed and direction

calculations● Customisable screens

IoT in the air

Variometer – IoT ready

Compact variometer IoT oriented design

● FANET, FLARM, OGN● Connection of smart-phone to

server platform for telemetry posting

● Posting of flying conditions –thermals, air columns

● Platform calculation for information sharing to other pilots

● Receiving data and providing direction and calculation to desired coordinates

“With the IoT, we’re headed to a world

where things aren’t liable to break

catastrophically” (Scott Weiss)

Dr. Martin Donoval, martin.donoval@powertec.sk