1. Where IoT Connects
Will Low-Power Devices Bring
High-Volume IoT Deployments?
An M2M Zone Webinar
Moderated by: Robin Duke-Woolley
Founder & CEO
Beecham Research
Presenter: Rod Montrose
VP Engineering
Numerex Corp.
Beecham Research
December 10, 2015
Sponsored by:

2. Introduction
Robin Duke-Woolley

3. As IoT develops, connected devices everywhere”

4. All Connectivity types have a part to play in IoT
1. Cellular 2G/3G/4G . . . 5G
2. WiFi
3. Bluetooth, ZigBee
4. Fixed Broadband
5. Wireless Broadband5. Wireless Broadband
6. Satellite
7. LPWA – Low Power, Wide Area
8. . . . many others
But what about the need for low power edge devices themselves?

5. Need for low power devices in many sectors

6. 1. Increasing need for security at the edge
2. Increasing need for processing at the edge. Even sensors
becoming more intelligent – and need power
3. Need for data storage at the edge
4. Long distance
Some of the challenges
4. Long distance
5. Remote locations
6. Connectivity requirement
7. BUT data from these locations becoming increasingly important
– mission critical. Must be reliable.

7. Rod Montrose
Vice President of Engineering

8. Where is IoT?

9. Where is IoT?

10. What are Low Power IoT Devices?
• Low RF Power Short Range Devices
ZigBee, BlueTooth Low Energy, Z-Wave, 413/900/2400 MHz ISM
• Low RF Power Longer Range Devices
SigFox, LoRA, Ingenu and other LPWANSigFox, LoRA, Ingenu and other LPWAN
• Low Power Usage Devices
Portable or Mobile Device
Battery or Power Source with Limited Energy
Short or Long Range
Need to Conserve Power

11. What are Low Power IoT Devices?
• Low RF Power Short Range Devices
ZigBee, BlueTooth Low Energy, Z-Wave, 413/900/2400 MHz ISM
• Low RF Power Longer Range Devices
SigFox, LoRA, Ingenu and other LPWANSigFox, LoRA, Ingenu and other LPWAN
• Low Power Usage Devices
Portable or Mobile Device
Battery or Power Source with Limited Energy
Short or Long Range
Need to Conserve Power

12. Why Low Power Usage Devices?
• Devices in Remote Areas or Power Too Expensive to Provide
Constant Power is Not Available - Portable
One On Site Visit (Truck Roll) can Eliminate any Benefit for M2M
• Cannot Change Batteries• Cannot Change Batteries
Explosive Atmospheres (Intrinsic Safety)
• Issues with Transportation of Lithium Batteries
• Very Sporadic Reporting or Information on Demand
• Need to Minimize Life Expense of Device

13. What Are High Volume Deployments?
• Supply Chain Asset Management
When, Where and How Assets Are Used
Assets Integrated with ERP & CRM Systems
Low Cost with Long Battery LifeLow Cost with Long Battery Life
• Medical Devices
Very Low Maintenance with Long Life Battery
• Security
Long Product Lifetime with Very Low Maintenance
Personal Security Needs Battery Operation

14. Example Use Case
Application: Supply Chain Asset Tracking
Business Model: Managed Service
• Device Supplied with Service
• Customer Selects Life of Contract• Customer Selects Life of Contract
• Inclusive of Device, Airtime, Application
Customer Data Connectivity:
• Web Portal
• REST API to Gateway Portal

15. Supply Chain Asset Tracking Use Case
• High Value Equipment Manufacturer
• Multiple Suppliers
• Multiple Manufacturing Facilities
Part Location Drives Just In Time• Part Location Drives Just In Time
Manufacturing
Reduces WIP in Facility
• Identify Long Dwell Times
http://numerex.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/iManage_CaseStudy0805-3.pdf

16. What is a Managed Service?
New Business Models Driving IoT
• Managed Service Model
Reduces Capital Expenditures
• Leads to Faster High Volume IoT Deployments
Shared Interest in Customer Success
Need to Maintain Margin Drives:
• Need to Minimize Costs of Lifetime of Product
– Responsible for Device Replacement for Life of Contract
• Reduce Support Costs

17. Supply Chain Device Requirements
• 4 Year Battery Life on 1 Set of User Replaceable Batteries
• Report Set Times per Day at Rest
• Report Set Times at Start, Stop and In-Motion
• Location Aware• Location Aware
Dynamic and Static Geo-Fences
• Asset Condition
Tilt Detection
Sensor Inputs

18. How Do We Achieve Low Power Utilization?
TechnicalTechnical
Discussion
Ahead

19. Technical Challenges for Low Power
• Radio Transmitters
Cellular Radios often Require >1 Amp Current Pulse
Cellular Registration can take 2 minutes or Longer
Form Factor often Dictates Small AntennaForm Factor often Dictates Small Antenna
• Small Antenna = Reduced Signal = Increases Retries with Higher Power
• GPS
GPS can take 5 minutes or more to acquire a lock
GPS Receivers often Require 30 mA or more Current

20. Technical Challenges for Low Power
Device is Often in Very Low Power Sleep Mode
• Difficult to Communicate
Communication Only When Awake
• Long Latency for Commands
Messages Not Received Until Next TransmissionMessages Not Received Until Next Transmission
• Long Sleep Cycles Increase Passivation in
Lithium batteries
Need occasional currents pulse to reduce damage
• Cannot be used for Time Critical Monitoring

21. Technical Challenges for Low Power
• Low Cost
Often Throwaway Devices
• High Reliability
Won’t be There to Hand-hold or Replace DeviceWon’t be There to Hand-hold or Replace Device
• Long Device Life
Need High Physical Security
Need to Withstand Environment
• NEMA and IP Rating
• Material Construction for Environment

22. Technical Challenges for Low Power

23. Technical Challenges for Low Power
Sensor Power
• Power Sensors Only When Measuring
Include Setup or Stabilization Time
• 4-20 mA Devices Often Need 12V or more to Operate• 4-20 mA Devices Often Need 12V or more to Operate
• Pulse Current Requirements
• Read Often but Transmit Only for Exceptions
Need to Normalize Readings for Thresholds
No Linear Devices Need Formulas to Determine Thresholds

24. Overcoming Technical Challenges
Need a Fresh Design
• Reusing Normal Powered Device Designs Often
Limited by Inherited Technological Decisions
• Difference Between Standard Products and
Purpose Built TechnologiesPurpose Built Technologies
• Measure Power Usage of EVERY Section
Under All Modes of Operation
• Every Component on Separate Power
Control to Minimize Power Usage
Leakage currents adds up!

25. Overcoming Technical Challenges
• Processor Power Control Modes
Turn Off Unused Peripherals
Understand Lowest Power Mode for GPIO Pins
Group Interrupt Pins on Single PortGroup Interrupt Pins on Single Port
DMA and Interrupt I/O Transfers
• RTOS Power Management
Ensure You Control the RTOS Power Usage

26. Overcoming Technical Challenges
• Adaptive Processing
Minimize Processor Systems
Localize decisions to Minimize Device Traffic
• Innovative Power Circuitry• Innovative Power Circuitry
Pulse boost converters with long time
between pulses (e.g. Silicon Labs TS3310)
• Micro pulses reduces Lithium Passivation
to extend Lithium battery life

27. Energy Harvesting
• Solar
• Biomass
• Wind
• Environmental Vibration• Environmental Vibration
• Human Motion
• Thermal
• Ambient RF signal
www.cymbet.com

28. Case Study: Low Power Device Implementation
Example Device: nxLOCATE
• STM32L151 ARM Cortex-M3 CPU
1.7 µA Stop mode + RTC; 11 uA Run mode
512K Flash, 80K RAM512K Flash, 80K RAM
• ublox MAX7C GPS
21 mA Acquisition, 16 / 4 mA Tracking
• Flexible Cellular Radio Support
3G, LTE (including CAT1 and future CATM)
http://numerex.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/nxLOCATEBrochure.pdf

29. Case Study: Low Power Device Implementation
Battery Operated - User Replaceable Batteries
• Uses 4 AA Cells
Lithium or Alkaline
• Silicon Labs TS3310 Pulse Power Supply• Silicon Labs TS3310 Pulse Power Supply
Lower Current Usage without Super Cap
• Mailbox Function with nxCLOUDCONNECT
Queues Device Messages to Send when Connected

30. Where Does the Power Go?
20%
45%
GPS
Cellular Radio
35%
45%
Cellular Radio
Sleep /
Accelerometer

31. Supply Chain Device Implementation
Report Set Times per Day at Rest
Use STM32 RTC Wake Timer
Report Set Times at Start, Stop and In-Motion
Use Analog Devices ADXL362 AccelerometerUse Analog Devices ADXL362 Accelerometer
• 270 nA Motion Wake-Up Mode; 1.1 uA Motion Monitoring
• If Inside GeoFence Minimize Cellular Reporting
Asset Condition - Tilt Detection
ADXL362 Determines Tilt

32. Supply Chain Device Implementation
Location Aware : Dynamic and Static Geo-Fences
• Dynamic GeoFence
GPS Sets GeoFence when Stop Detected
Programmable Static GeoFences Determined from Customer ApplicationProgrammable Static GeoFences Determined from Customer Application
Reduces Unnecessary Cellular Radio Transmissions
Reduced Possibility of False Alerts

33. How Will Low-Power Devices Bring
High-Volume Deployments?
Greater Application to More Problems
• Without the Need for Constant Power
• High Reliability and Longer Life = Lower TCO• High Reliability and Longer Life = Lower TCO
• Cellular / Satellite Remove Distance Limits
• Disposable IoT Device
• Mass Production & Greater Use Drivers down Cost
More Applications = Higher Volume Deployments

34. Questions?
You may submit a question through the Q&A box.
Please address your questions to All Panelists which is
the default setting in the Q&A box.
Will Low-Power Devices Bring
High-Volume IoT Deployments?
Where IoT Connects
the default setting in the Q&A box.
Presenter: Rod Montrose
VP Engineering
Numerex Corp.
Moderator: Robin Duke-Woolley
Founder & CEO
Beecham Research

35. Although the live event is over, the webinar recording and
Thank you for Joining Us!
Where IoT Connects
Will Low-Power Devices Bring
High-Volume IoT Deployments?
Sponsored by:
Although the live event is over, the webinar recording and
slide deck will be available in approximately 48 hours at
www.m2mzone.com
Join us for the next M2M Zone webinar on February 18, 2016:
End to End Security-Is it the Holy Grail of IoT/M2M?
www.m2mzone.com