Introduction
Modern electronics are enhancing supply chain solutions across industries and the world.
New sensor solutions, for example, enable cold chain monitoring, reducing food waste daily and playing a critical role transporting vaccines during the COVID-19 crisis.
The leaps in lithium batteries and battery management can now keep systems running for longer. Providing full data visibility across trips that may take months to complete.
Ultra-wide band, LoRa, cellular networks, and concepts like Angle of Arrival and Angle of Departure elevate the level of detail in the data, enabling real time decision-making and precision manufacturing across vast geographies or intricate factories.
But the path to optimized asset tracking solutions is not without its challenges.
Here are some key considerations to secure success on your next project.
Panelists
John Stih
Sensors Specialist at Future Connectivity Solutions
Paul Schmokel
Analog/Power Specialist at Future Specialist Solutions
Rick Cartier
Wireless Specialist at Future Specialist Solutions
Lazina Rahman
IoT/Connectivity Specialist, Mediator
Main challenges and considerations
Power design
The first step towards achieving consistent data across long distances and travel times, is making sure all systems stay running from start to finish.
This is easier said than done.
Battery life
Most asset tracking solutions will rely on battery powered systems.
Power designers must consider battery life by either ensuring “enough juice” for long periods between charges, or that battery replacements are readily available.
Sealed batteries
Sealed batteries add a new layer to the challenge. To avoid losing valuable data, systems relying on sealed batteries must be quick to recharge, fully replace, or ensure long enough lifecycles.
Understand power state cycles
High power state: When the sensor is active, transmitting information, gathering data, or making calculations.
Power engineers must integrate enough outputs to handle unforeseen power surges in this state.
Low power state: When the sensor is idle or inactive.
Depending on the application, designers must consider a strategy between either event-based wake up cycles or periodical time intervals.
Idle time
Asset tracking applications spend long periods of idle time. Power engineers must design solutions that don’t drain the vehicle’s battery while it’s off and running run on ultra-low power consumption, ideally below 1 milliamp when idle or off.
Journey before deployment
Asset tracking application may go through long periods of assembly or travel time before deployment. To avoid battery drainage during this period, systems must consider a solution.
Consumer devices like remote controllers solve this by adding removable plastic strips that prevent battery contact before sale.
Sealed battery systems will often feature “ship” modes, where devices remain dormant until they receive a signal.
Wireless design
Network availability
Transporting assets around the globe means cellular network availabilities may vary.
Related: Future of Iot-based Asset Tracking
Wireless engineers must consider this when designing their systems, mapping every scenario: What’s available wherever, whenever cargo may go?
Plan for alternative trajectories, future-proofing, redundancy, and fall-back networks.
Network gaps
Nevertheless, systems must be ready for network gaps. Either by robust fall-back alternatives like the emerging Orcom IDP for satellite communication or internal data storage options that are later uploaded in bulk once networks become available.
Cost
Every decision comes with cost. Satellite communications will deliver excellent coverage, even in remote areas. However, they will significantly increase cost.
Balancing budgets according to needs is a challenge that must be tackled proactively.
Security
System security is only as strong as its weakest link. Individuals and organizations may offer different interpretations of it. However, in this context, assume that security will be a top priority and choose accordingly.
Critical applications
When data integrity is absolutely non-negotiable, coverage must go beyond the systems.
Critical applications, such as organ transportation, must be covered not just by network availability and redundancy strategies, but by establishing mandates or limiting operations to areas with guaranteed robust connection.
Contingency plan
A crucial aspect of planning is getting ready for failure. When all else fails, how can systems manage data loss or disruption?
Sensors design
Security and privacy
Asset tracking applications rely on sensors monitoring both inside and outside of vehicles, tracking anything from temperature and pressure to other critical parameters and confidential business information.
For this reason, data security must be ensured at every step of the journey, from gathering to communication.
Power consumption
Sensor types and models feature different power efficiency. Selecting the right sensors means balancing robust, precise data collection with power consumption that ensures longevity.
Placement and integration
It’s not just choosing the right sensors. More art than science, mounting sensors strategically can significantly influence data accuracy and effectiveness.
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