Asset Tracking of mobile Assets using GPS is an appropriate and very useful approach in many cases. In other use cases the Global Positioning System fails.
This is especially true for indoor applications when the building itself blocks the satellite signals. In addition, GPS works with a constellation of satellites that continuously emit a radio signal that a receiver picks up to determine the angle of arrival as well as the distance to each visible satellite, allowing the receiver’s position to be calculated. Transferred to an IoT sensor, this means that all processing is done by the chipset, which requires a lot of processing time and therefore energy.
Therefore, other technologies must be used indoors, such as WiFi or the more reliable and much more accurate BLE. Also in reality, however, it is often difficult to separate the different spheres “inside” and “outside”. This makes seamless asset tracking difficult. Under such conditions, a system is needed that can combine different technologies.
We use the products of our partner Abeeway to offer a multi-technology tracking solution that allows for complete continuity of asset tracking indoors and outdoors. The French company specialises in geolocation and tracking solutions via ultra low-power LoRaWAN connectivity and its technology perfectly fits our solution portfolio.
All Abeeway trackers we offer and use are multi-mode trackers. This means that each sensor can receive signals from different tracking technologies (BLE, WiFi, GPS, Low-Power GPS and LoRa TDoA) and additionally use different channels for data communication. The firmware of the trackers selects the best available tracking technology and automatically adapts to the environment, thus extending the lifetime of the device battery. The trackers show their full strength in combination with LoRaWAN Gateways or a LoRAWAN antenna.
Asset Tracking and LoRaWAN
A typical LoRaWAN network uses a simple architecture where LoRaWAN base stations are connected to the Internet via a variety of available backhauls and manage the bidirectional data flow between LoRa sensors and the backend. LoRaWAN enables long range communication (up to 15 km) between sensors and base stations, resulting in networks with 2-3 times fewer base stations compared to mobile networks. The ability to set up a private LoRaWAN network as well as the deep indoor penetration makes the technology ideal for use in area demanding industries such as shipyards and mines.
LoRaWAN data transmission and reception requires low power consumption (less than 50 mA), which drastically reduces the power consumption of the devices and enables a battery life of up to 10 years.
The LoRa radio modulation allows deep indoor penetration and even provides the ability to reach sensors that monitor underground water or gas meters.
LoRaWAN also uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms. This provides end-to-end encryption with two keys: one for users to protect user data content and one for operators to ensure network authentication.
Favendo customers and partners will be able to choose between Favendo’s own RTLS platform Commander, Abeeway’s ThingParkX Location Engine or a custom-fit hybrid solution, which ideally combines the strengths of both systems, depending on the application and requirements. For customers, Favendo remains the only contact partner with its proven installation and roll-out service.
Meet Favendo
Favendo is the trusted partner for outstanding Real Time Location Services. Our team delivers reliable and efficient solutions for manufacturing and logistics companies, public buildings and facility management, and cruise ships. To provide our customers with a solution that meets their needs one hundred percent, we partner with Quuppa and Abeeway.
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