This is the second article of the series: IoT-Based Asset Tracking.
On this article, we touch on the potential challenges engineers might face when designing for IoT-based asset tracking. Our engineers provide years of experience worth of considerations to anticipate and prepare for on next design.
Dive in with our experts’ insight, and explore their perspectives, questions, and answers in this resourceful series.
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- From a power perspective, with insight from Paul Schmokel, Analog/Power Specialist at Future Electronics
- From a wireless perspective, with insight from Rick Cartier, Wireless Specialist at Future Electronics.
- From a sensor’s perspective, with insight from John Stih, Sensor Specialist at Future Electronics
From a power perspective:
Special thanks to Paul Schmokel for his valuable collaboration
Without the batteries that keep our systems going, there would be no IoT, no assets being tracked, no visibility on our connected efforts. So even though its often left for last, the first challenge we should be addressing is this:
Battery Life – The Make-or-Break Factor
Imagine spending months preparing your systems, designing and redesigning solutions to maximize the benefits and leverage IoT, and then, once the fleet is deployed, batteries just run dry too soon. What happens then? You lose valuable data, miss opportunities for real-time tracking, and get a really unhappy customer.
Battery life extension and power efficiency is the first challenge for a successful design. To make sure all other things work and are better leveraged, you must first make sure your batteries will have enough juice to get them to their destination. Keeping those sensors running for longer periods between charges or battery replacements is always paramount.
The Sealed Battery Dilemma
When it comes to sealed battery systems where a battery runs continuously and is harder (or impossible) to replace or recharge, the death of said battery will often mean the need to replace the entire sensor or system. If these systems can’t stand the test of time, chances are customers won’t be too happy with them as they quickly become an inconvenience and a long-term money leak. For that reason, maximizing the lifespan of sealed batteries is a challenge that could present valuable opportunities if tackled effectively.
Vehicle Tracking and Power Efficiency
Now let’s emphasize the topic of vehicle tracking, as it represents the building block of fleet and asset management. Fleet vehicles are equipped with devices that rely on battery power. Here, low power consumption takes center stage. The last thing you want is to drain the vehicle’s battery, especially when most vehicles spend a considerable amount of time idle or turned off.
To tackle this challenge effectively, a good consideration is to design systems that operate with ultra-low power consumption, ideally below one milliamp or between one to five milliamps during idle or off states.
In short, power is the lifeline that sustains tracking systems. It is one of the aspects that must be always in the back of your head as an engineer, as you want to make sure all your innovations have enough juice to go from idea to reality and pave the way for a successful and efficient future in asset tracking.
From a wireless perspective:
Special thanks to Rick Cartier for his valuable collaboration
Now on to the world of wireless connectivity. If we’re thinking of power as the lifeline of tracking systems, then we could think of connectivity as the nervous system in a body, sending the signals between the assets (sensors) and the central control system, ensuring a seamless flow of data. If we lose connectivity for a period of time, we’re losing valuable information that could be key in the analysis of data to improve efficiency or reveal areas of opportunity.
The Connectivity Challenge
So, if you’re tracking assets that need to move across the world, you’re probably relying on a cellular network. That’s where the first consideration comes in: wireless engineers need to have profound understanding of what are the available networks in or across the areas their systems will operate, and what they can count on when the necessity of fallback options arises.
Handling Network Gaps
But here’s where it gets tricky: What happens when your assets are going into areas with no network coverage? This is a common scenario for fleet monitoring. Eventually, you’ll find yourself beyond the reach of a cellular network. Now comes the crucial decision-making process: Should you store the data locally and then transmit it in bulk once you regain connectivity? Or do you implement a fallback system, like the emerging Orcom IDP for satellite communication?
Costs and Security
Yes, however, every choice made in these situations comes with cost implications. Satellite communications, for example, will offer a great solution and a lifeline even in remote areas, but alternatives may increase the price significantly. So, this raises a new challenge, how will each decision be measured against the budget?
Furthermore, we have to consider the security implications that come with connectivity. The sole definition can be a challenge in itself, as several individuals or organizations may offer different interpretations of it. However, in this context, Richard suggests taking a proactive stance—assume that security will be a top priority.
Connectivity is the enabler of IoT-based asset tracking. Nevertheless, it can also be an obstacle if the challenges are not properly addressed. Tread carefully and plan to make the most out of every cent and every benefit that comes with good wireless systems on your applications.
From a sensors perspective:
Special thanks to John Stih for his valuable collaboration.
Our whole asset tracking journey would be completely in the dark if it wasn’t for sensors: the eyes, ears, and even noses of the whole IoT system. Of course, these ones come with their share of challenges to address on your applications. John Stih, Sensor Specialist at Future Electronics shined a spotlight on privacy and securing the data generated by sensors as a paramount topic to tackle when designing.
Protecting Sensitive Sensor Data
Privacy and security are always of paramount importance, particularly when it comes to the data generated by sensors. In the context of fleet management, we have sensors monitoring both inside and outside of vehicles, therefore, ensuring the security of this data is crucial. When it comes to privacy, it’s more of a case-by-case scenario, where the concerns may vary depending on several factors like the nature of what’s being monitored. However, it remains of peak importance to keep this in consideration and adjust accordingly from the very early stages of planning.
A Multifaceted Challenge
The scope of the challenge extends beyond vehicle monitoring. Sensors can track anything from temperature and pressure to other critical parameters and confidential business information. To maintain the integrity of this data, it must be secured throughout the communication process.
It’s important to remember that all parts we touched on today are equally important to the IoT system functionality. While you might want to adjust and budget according to your application’s specific needs, that doesn’t mean you can go entirely without one or the other. Wireless connectivity, sensors, and power are all entangled elements that are elemental to make the IoT system work. So be sure your project is covered by a well-rounded team of experts and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Future Electronics, your trusted partner for expert, reliable engineering support.
Before we move on to our third article in the series: IoT-based asset tracking: Considerations and how to mitigate challenges, do you have any IoT or Asset tracking projects you’d like to take to the next level?
Send us an email and get in contact with our experts at Future Electronics to get personalized engineering support for all of your applications.
