Jul 06, 2023Presented here are recent news announcements in the radio frequency identification and Internet of Things industries.
Zebra Launches Mobile Computer Compatible with RFID
Zebra Technologies has announced the launch of its TC22/TC27 mobile computer, which is compatible with the company's radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, including models RFD40 and RFD90. For the RFD40, Zebra offers an integrated solution by which the TC22/TC27 uses an eConnex adapter that can be snapped on as needed. The RFD90 is compatible with RFID as well, but as a standalone solution requiring a Bluetooth connection. A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) battery allows for the location of misplaced devices via Zebra's Device Tracker solution.
The computer is intended for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) in retail, sports, entertainment, transportation, logistics, utilities and field services that require range scanning, hybrid point-of-sale solutions and enterprise-grade manageability. For hospitality and entertainment businesses, the TC22/TC27 comes with support for Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap, enabling it to validate tickets, boarding passes, and membership and loyalty cards stored in mobile wallets.
A standard 1D/2D integrated scan engine, or a 1D/2D integrated scan engine with Intellifocus technology, allows users to scan items in hand or on shelves, allowing the capture of barcodes regardless of condition. It features a 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, enabling video calls to distribution centers, stores and warehouses. The computer contains Zebra Mobility DNA tools for device management and security, and the device is upgradable to Mobility DNA Enterprise and supports upgrades up to Android 16. Other features include Tap to Pay, Workstation Connect, Device Tracker and the RFD40 UHF RFID sled.
The TC22/TC27 can function in challenging climates, at operating temperatures of -10 degrees to +50 degrees Celsius, and it can withstand drops to tile over concrete, as well as tumbles. It has an IP68 rating, meaning it is protected from dust and water, and a 6-inch FHD display provides visibility into route optimization and micro-locationing. The device can fit in a pocket or an apron and is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, 5G and CBRS (U.S.-band only) connectivity, as well as operational high-memory configurations and a Qualcomm Hex-Core 2.1GHz processor.
European Service Providers Choose EchoStar Satellite IoT Connectivity
EchoStar has announced that seven European IoT service providers have signed multi-year commercial agreements to develop and sell IoT solutions using EchoStar Mobile's Pan-European, satellite-based, LoRa-enabled IoT network. The customers—API-K, Cyric, DalesLandNet, Dryad, Galaxy1, ProEsys and Symes—are leveraging the real-time network to enable IoT deployments for outdoor personal geo-safety, soil moisture monitoring, forest fire detection, utility metering and pipeline monitoring.
EchoStar Mobile is an EchoStar subsidiary in Europe that operates a mobile satellite system network using the geostationary EchoStar XXI satellite. EchoStar is developing an S-band constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites known as EchoStar Lyra, which supports Internet of Things connectivity as the company explores the development of a global non-terrestrial 5G network in the S-band.
Compatible with Semtech's LoRa-enabled wireless platform for device connectivity, the geostationary EchoStar XXI S-band satellite provides two-way connectivity throughout Europe without requiring roaming agreements across geographies. To add satellite capability to existing IoT solutions, customers can upgrade their commercially deployed devices with EchoStar Mobile's EM2050 dual-mode satellite-terrestrial module.
PTS RFID Software Supports Impinj Readers
Portable Technology Solutions (PTS) has announced that its ClearStream RFID On-Board application is now compatible with Impinj's R700 fixed RFID reader for enterprise-grade Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. ClearStream, an off-the-shelf RFID software suite, supports on-board capabilities for both Zebra and Impinj readers.
ClearStream On-Board runs directly on a reader and is designed to handle difficult installations of a fixed RFID system. Running on the reader enables the application to save tag data locally, and to transfer it whenever a network connection is available. By keeping data collection reliable when network communications are spotty, PTS explains, the application is intended to eliminate IT issues and firewall concerns, and to keep a business going even if a network goes down.
According to PTS, installing On-Board can be accomplished with a ClearStream subscription or a free trial, and configuration takes minutes via a Web portal. The application can be configured to send tag data to the Web portal, to the PTS cloud, to a PC running ClearStream software or to a user's Web service.
Avnet, Aceinna Partner on Sensor Product Distribution
Avnet has entered into a distribution agreement with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensing solutions company Aceinna, which provides inertial navigation systems, real-time kinematic solutions, inertial measurement units and current sensors. Aceinna's MEMS modules are designed to let users develop products for the off-road, autonomous and electric vehicle automotive markets. The agreement enables Avnet to sell Aceinna's products worldwide.
"By partnering with Avnet, Aceinna is strategically positioned to effectively deliver our highly differentiated sensor solutions, enabling us to offer customers compelling and innovative products," said Eric Brown, Aceinna's director of supply chain management, in a prepared statement. "We are confident that this collaboration with Avnet will not only reinforce our global presence but also provide significant value to our customers."
Jason Skoczen, Avnet's sales director for lightspeed and transportation, added in the statement, "We look forward to working closely with Aceinna to bring cutting-edge sensor technologies to market that will drive remarkable advancements across multiple industries. Aceinna's products are particularly well positioned in the transportation vertical, which should help facilitate Avnet's continued rapid growth in this segment."
Danalto Offers Integration With Autodesk Software
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) company danalto has announced an integration with Autodesk's Construction Cloud portfolio of software and services, which includes a builders network and predictive insights for construction teams. Working with such radio technologies as LoRa 2.4 GHz, ultra-wideband (UWB), Wi-Fi, BLE, RFID and GNSS, danalto's FiLo Positioning Engine provides precise location data across a variety of indoor and outdoor use-case environments, according to the company.
Danalto provides data management and control via its Cardinal front-end platform, to help customers eliminate blind spots and improve business operations. Customers can embed the Cardinal platform in their Autodesk Build Insight or BIM 360 Project Home dashboards for location tracking of project assets. Users can then locate items in real time, analyze location histories and patterns, and boost operations to keep projects on schedule, on time and within budget. Danalto works with companies in the oil and gas, mining, construction and energy sectors, and its solutions provide positioning intelligence in diverse and often unserviceable environments.
The radio-agnostic Cardinal platform ingests data from various positioning technologies, allowing multiple radios to provide location in a single data set, depending on the use case. "Construction complexity continues to increase, and keeping track of assets on a job site can be challenging," said James Cook, Autodesk Construction Solutions' director of partner integrations, in a prepared statement. "Embedding danalto's Cardinal within Autodesk Construction Cloud means asset-tracking information can now live in the same interface where builders access the full range of their construction data."
