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The internet of things worx

No, I’ve not forgotten how to spell works, I’m trying to be ‘clever’ in my title as yesterday I was a SolutionsPT and was introduced to ThingWorx and have come away excited by what it can do to help companies make the most of the data they are going to get from Telemetry & M2M, or the Internet of Things as it’s becoming popularly known as.

 

Companies such as the one I work for, Powelectrics, have some great hardware and data collection solutions that suits certain vertical markets. We also have great application understanding, proven and affordable technology and very credible application references. We can interface to ERP systems, as well as SCADA systems and Smart phone apps using things like webservices, and this gives us the ability to deliver solutions today that drive tangible benefits into the heart of customers businesses.

 

What we don’t have is the ability to join lots of data sources together and create meaningful data from it which is what we are going to need tomorrow. As the Internet of Things grows and users have more and more data to use then the need for solutions such as ThingWorx becomes greater.  That’s not to say ThingWorx won’t be of benefit to users today.

 

During yesterday’s presentation my mind was working overtime – I could see how ThingWorx would benefit Powelectrics immediately as we have data in different depositories, but perhaps more importantly I could see how it would benefit my clients and help them blend in legacy data collection services in with the new data collection services they have.

 

So, thank you SolutionsPT & ThingWorx for yesterday and for making the future even brighter for us “Internet of Thingers….”. I look forward to working with you on some projects in the near future.

	Sensors	A wide range of sensors for process monitoring and factory automation. Level, pressure, flow, position, colour, speed to name but a few.
	M2M Hardware	Affordable but powerful, flexible M2M & Telemetry hardware to suit a wide range of applications.
	Connectivity	Sim cards to suit many M2M applications with features that ensure projects are efficiently managed, costs are kept to a minimum and security is kept under control
	Alerts	Text messages (SMS) directly from you M2M hardware to your mobile or email alerts via our software solutions.
	Data on the move	View your data and receive alerts using your handheld devices, such as your mobile phone.
	Software	Data collection software that can be integrated into your IT infrastructure, collecting data from M2M hardware, allowing you to manage the devices and delivering data into the heart of your business.
	Data interfacing	Flexible yet powerful data interfacing solutions that can deliver data into your SCADA systems, ERP packages or cloud computing solutions.
	Hosted data services	Via a simple web page you can view your data, export it and manage your M2M hardware from wherever you are.

 

 

 

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From sensors to smart phones…. bridging the M2M technology gap

Following on from my last post (Making sense of M2M & telemetry) I’ve been thinking about how sensors, electronics, communications and IT all combine to create the world of M2M, and how we M2M  / telemetry professionals view the sector through our own unique pair of spectacles. Last week I was at a conference in Munich where the focus was telecontrol and the users were primarily involved with factory automation and water & waste water. In both the sectors the traditional way of gathering & monitoring data has been via SCADA systems and the solutions were very much focussed on how data would be interfaced to such SCADA systems.

 

This morning I received a news story about how Cloud Computing was being used in Portugal for water network monitoring, which is quite a different approach to that used on the Acquedotto Pugliese in Italy where a SCADA system sits at the centre of the solution. The Aquas de Cascais are the first Portugese water utility to adopt such a solution for leakage detection and it shows to me that whilst SCADA may suit some, cloud computing will suit others.

 

Just as experience and skill is needed to apply the rights sensor technology (see Making sense of M2M & telemetry) then experience and skill is need to select the right data collection platform. The winners in M2M are going to be companies that can encompass different technologies adopting a flexible approach to data collection, understanding the risks and legacy issues within their clients internal infrastructure.

 

 

 

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M2M Remote Monitoring

Making sense of M2M and telemetry

I remember my accountant telling me once when doing some end of year accounts ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’ and the saying came back into my head recently when someone was describing to me an experience they had had with remote monitoring (M2M, telemetry….. you choose the phrase that you think is best).

M2M Applications

As the M2M sector gathers momentum we are hearing a lot of talk about chipsets and modules, sim cards and cloud computing but we need to remember my accountant – rubbish in, rubbish out…. A lot of M2M applications involve measurements being taken and transmitted – from water, gas and electricity metering to heart rate monitoring.

The range physical variables that are being measured would take me all day just to type out let alone work out the best way to perform the measurement and develop the technology, but to seems to be the last thing on people’s minds. Perhaps it should be the first..?

Tank Level Monitoring

The telemetry experience I mentioned above related to tank level monitoring and it was a case of misapplication. An absolute pressure transmitter had been used. Yes, pressure = density x gravity x height, so the pressure exerted on the sensor face does change as the height of liquid above it changes, but someone along the line had forgotten that above the tank there’s the atmosphere and the atmospheric pressure changes. You can use a pressure sensor in this application so long as you compensate for the atmospheric changes (usually with the right type of pressure sensor). What is the right technology for level measurement..? You have to consider the budget, the accuracy, the tank size, the product and the conditions. You could use an ultrasonic sensor, one that transmits an ultrasonic pulse and times how long it takes to bounce back from the liquids surface. Ultrasonic level sensors are great and have their place, but how well do they suit an application when they are only powered momentarily once a day..? Could condensation build up on the face of the sensor and effect the measurement..? If this happened would you know about it or would you get a rogue reading, think the tank was empty and send a tanker out to fill..?

Level Monitoring Sensors

Sensors need to be applied correctly or else we, as a sector, are in danger of having great communication solutions that are actually delivering rubbish data.

Contact us today for our M2M Remote Monitoring

For more information regarding our M2M Remote Monitoring then please contact us today. Call us direct on 01827 310 666 or fill in our online enquiry form.

 

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M2M telemetry

M2M & Telemetry Momentum

There's no doubt about it, the world of M2M (or machine2machine or telemetry or remote monitoring or whatever you want to call it) is gathering momentum. We're seeing an increase in sales & enquiries of our M2M Telemetry products and it's clear from the buzz around the industry that there's growth in many different remote monitoring sectors.

The networks are becoming more aggressive in both their pricing and their marketing which is of helping fuel the growth, and the module manufacturers are doing their bit too, but what are the other factors..?

M2M Solutions

I see the M2M in two distinct parts - those that want to integrate modules and those that want a more complete solution. To integrate modules you need design development skills as well as time and money, and the networks & module manufacturers have given these kind of users a gentle nudge. Not every M2M application warrants this investment so what are the options for those that want a more "available" solution and how can we help them..?

 

The solution you need depends on your application but I think the  Metron2 covers quite a few options, with an emphasis on ease of use, flexibility and affordability. It's a solution that can grow with your needs - start with simple texts to your mobile to gain some confidence, then use a hosted solution so you can pay a small monthly fee and view your data on the internet and then finally, when you are ready to take a jump off the high board, integrate your own software platform and interface to your business systems.

 

This kind of approach speeds up the integration time for M2M, it reduces the risk, lowers the costs and means that you can quickly measure the deliverables and see if the use of M2M fits in with your business.

Is this kind of approach right for you..? Let me know - I'd be interested to have your thoughts.

Contact us today for our M2M Telemetry

For more information regarding our M2M Telemetry then please contact us today. Call us direct on 01827 310 666 or fill in our online enquiry form.

Alternatively see our M2M Remote Monitoring and M2M Communication pages.

 

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M2M Applications

Positive environmental impact using M2M & telemetry

I became a little bit concerned recently whilst reading about the fear some people have of M2M & Telemetry... that it would invade their privacy or perhaps lead to dangerous situations. The thought of your freezer automatically ordering food isn't appealling for me either but as an industry professional with over 20 years experience I don't see this as being a viable target market (see Future Shock: M2M Gaining Ground).

 

Wireless M2M

M2M & telemetry are most beneficial when the machine is 'remote' and it saves someone having to do something. There are practical reasons to automate tasks and M2M solutions do exactly that -  I don't consider my fridge to be 'remote' and I don't consider my weekly food shop to be something that needs to be automated. For more information regarding our wireless M2M options then please contact us.

 

Where I am seeing telemetry be successful is when it saves someone having to drive somewhere to do something. This could be to take a meter reading; to fill a vending machine; to check if a pump or a machine have tripped; or to fill up a chemical or fuel storage tank.

 

One example I have been involved with has seen a 25% reduction in the distance travelled by large road tankers (click here for more info). The financial benefits are obvious and this helps the western world remain competiive. The environmental benefits are often forgotten.

 

Investing in M2M & telemetry is a very green thing to do - in some industries there's nothing I can think of that would be greener. Sending drivers on courses to help them drive more efficiently; investing in vehicles that emit less CO2; switching off the engine when parked up.... can you ever see these all adding up to save as much pollution as 25% fewer miles? And can any of these contribute to positively to the bottom line..?

 

Go Green, Go M2M.!!!

Contact us today for our M2M Applications

For more information regarding our M2M Applications then please contact us today. Call us direct on 01827 310 666 or fill in our online enquiry form.

Alternatively see our M2M Remote Monitoring and M2M Communication pages.

 

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