Presented here are recent news announcements regarding the following organizations: Culvert IoT, Lacuna Space, Semtech, MultiTech Systems, Paragon ID, Wiliot and Luner.
Culvert IoT Offers Location-Aware Solution for Industrial Workplaces
Culvert IoT, a hardware skunkworks for many Silicon Valley technology companies, has announced the launch of SpaceTrace, a selection of devices designed to enable the rapid development and deployment of location-awareness solutions for Industry 4.0. According to the company, the SpaceTrace products combine Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra-wideband (UWB) and low-power cellular technologies in a pick-and-mix assortment of tags, trackers and bridges to build specific applications for enterprises using augmented reality.
A major challenge facing the industry, Culvert IoT reports, is that no two people-tracking applications are the same. This means enterprises face an uphill battle in terms of costs and time when implementing intelligent applications that improve safety or efficiencies by enabling individuals, products and machines to be aware of their proximity to each other. With that in mind, SpaceTrace’s low-power tags and trackers leverage location identification using UWB, BLE, Wi-Fi and LTE Cell ID.
The solution utilizes u-blox‘s Thingstream Internet of Things (IoT) communication-as-a-service platform to transport this location data to the cloud from anywhere worldwide. SpaceTrace enables the augmentation of workspaces with location-aware information to build applications, such as preventing workers from entering unsafe areas or getting too close to machinery. The system can also provide documentation instantaneously when workers inspect machines or sites, as well as offer workflow analysis.
Lacuna Space, Semtech Expand LoRaWAN Coverage via IoT Satellites
Semtech, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and algorithms, has announced a joint initiative with Lacuna Space to increase the coverage and resilience of LoRaWAN connectivity. In areas of the world lacking cellular or Wi-Fi signals, satellites fill connectivity gaps, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Because it is affordable and simple to install, the companies report, LoRaWAN can bridge terrestrial networks with worldwide satellite connectivity and offer low-power, ubiquitous coverage.
“We now have trials and demonstrations underway in many countries and regions that were previously thought to be inaccessible to IoT,” said Rob Spurrett, Lacuna Space’s CEO, in a prepared statement. “Our collaboration with Semtech and the enablement of its LR-FHSS device accelerates IoT adoption for a safer, more resilient and resource-efficient world. With this collaboration, we expect to begin commercial services within the first half of 2022.”
The collaboration is built on Long Range Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (LR-FHSS), the latest addition to the LoRaWAN standard. According to the companies, LR-FHSS takes up less room on a network, which future-proofs capacity while maintaining low-power-consumption capabilities that enable affordable and simple satellite IoT platforms.
“The addition of LR-FHSS to the LoRaWAN standard further increases capacity and resilience of ubiquitous connectivity,” added Marc Pégulu, the VP of IoT product marketing and strategy for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group, in the prepared statement. “Lacuna’s application of this affordable and simplified technology will further expand access to connection through their satellite technology.”
MultiTech Systems Unveils LoRaWAN Sensors
Multi-Tech Systems, a supplier of IoT devices and services, has announced the availability of MultiTech Reveal Sensors, a set of long-range wireless sensors for the Internet of Things. Originally designed and manufactured by recently acquired company RadioBridge, the sensors utilize the LoRaWAN wireless standard and are engineered for long-range, low-cost and extended-battery-life applications.
MultiTech provides sensors, embedded communications devices, modems and gateways, cloud connectivity and device management services, and custom design and application development. The MultiTech Reveal Sensors are designed with an open architecture for flexible integration, the company reports, and come with an optional Web-based console for provisioning, monitoring and configuring sensors in the field. Custom design is available, the firm notes, with the goal of achieving seamless sensor-to-cloud solutions for a variety of applications.
“OEMs, systems integrators and solution providers now have a simplified path to develop and deploy new connected solutions,” said Stefan Lindvall, MultiTech’s CEO, in a prepared statement. “We are very proud to offer the world’s most comprehensive LoRaWAN-based sensor to cloud portfolio of products and look forward to continuing our commitment to help businesses leverage the true power of IoT within their industries.”
Paragon ID Secures ARC Certification
Paragon ID, a provider of identification solutions for traceability, brand protection, transport, smart cities, electronic identification and payments, has announced that its ARC quality certification has been renewed for another year. The company achieved its first ARC certification for the design, manufacturing and supply of its RFID inlays and tags in September 2020.
The certification, awarded by the Auburn University RFID Lab, confirms a company’s manufacturing expertise, resources, capabilities and quality processes covering all the critical aspects of RFID inlay design and production. Since its first ARC certification, Paragon ID’s R&D teams have developed several new ranges of RFID inlays that are manufactured in-house. More than 10 of its inlays are ARC-certified, the company reports, with an additional four currently undergoing the design-validation process towards certification. The certified inlays are built specifically for the retail, healthcare, pharmaceutical and air transportation industries.
“We are very pleased to have secured once again the ARC quality certification, which confirms our continued commitment to deliver high-quality products to our customers,” said Francois Gauthier, Paragon ID’s EMEA general manager, in a prepared statement. “As the largest manufacturer of RFID inlays in Europe, with experience of more than two decades in RFID tag manufacturing, Paragon ID has unique know-how, industrial capacity and best-in-class manufacturing and innovation, to best serve our customer needs today and in the future.”
The company offers customized solutions to fit a range of requirements from concept to implementation. Applications include inventory management, loss prevention, store operations optimization, supply chain and logistics and brand protection. “As a trusted partner to our valued service bureau and solution-provider customers,” Gauthier added, “we are pleased to leverage our core expertise in RFID inlay and label manufacturing to offer integrated product lines and flexible tagging solutions to best fit our customers’ needs with best-in-class quality standards.”
Wiliot Launches Retail IoT Starter Kit
Wiliot, an IoT company that provides self-powered, stamp-sized computers and cloud-based privacy and sensing, has announced the Wiliot Starter Kit, containing “everything retailers need to experience the IoT transformation that Wiliot represents.” The kit includes Wiliot’s IoT Pixels, pre-mounted on both cardboard and a coffee cup. The stamp-sized computers can sense a range of physical and environment data, such as temperature, fill level, motion, location changes, humidity and proximity. The kit, which includes small Bluetooth bridge devices that energize and read the IoT Pixel tags, was unveiled at the recent NRF conference.
The harvested data is relayed to the Wiliot cloud via gateways, including smartphones, using the Wiliot mobile app, which is compatible with iOS- and Android-based devices. Through the starter kit, retailers can explore projects enabling new retail use cases, such as inventory management, consumption monitoring, anticounterfeiting and product traceability. The kit’s “Open Release” enables any retailer or brand, of any size and with nearly any budget, to begin working with Wiliot. Previously, the company reports, its controlled-release initiative was only open to a select group of retailers and brands.
“This is a milestone in democratizing the Internet of Things,” said Tony Small, Wiliot’s chief business officer, in a prepared statement. “We chose NRF because it represents a gathering of the entire ecosystem of industry leaders—partners, retailers, brands—who will appreciate the power of the Starter Kit and its ability to scale access to Wiliot’s vision of IoT. That vision, which is now a reality, is to transform the Internet of expensive Things to the Internet of everyday Things by adding intelligence and connectivity to everything from packaging to containers and clothing—for just pennies.”
Wiliot is currently working with multiple retail brands in the apparel, food and beverage, and healthcare sectors. The launch of the Wiliot Starter Kit comes on the heels of a $200 million venture capital round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2.
Luner Announces IoT SIM for Developers, SMEs
Luner has announced the launch of the Ultimate IoT SIM, which the company says provides developers, as well as small and midsize enterprises (SMEs), with a rapid, flexible solution for connecting IoT projects. The system provides 500 megabytes of data throughout a usage period of five years for a flat-rate payment of either £10 ($13.60), €12.50 ($17) or $15 ($20.40), eliminating fluctuating connectivity costs. The Ultimate IoT SIM offers multi-network coverage from more than 130 network providers throughout Europe, the company reports, which will automatically switch to the strongest signal, thereby ensuring reliable connectivity at all times.
In addition, Luner is offering a 15 percent discount on Ultimate IoT SIM data purchases until Jan. 31, 2022. Purchases can be made directly via the company’s website, providing customers with access to Luner’s self-service connectivity platform, designed to manage deployments of any size with real-time data analytics, live CDRs and device location via an intuitive interface. Users can access a full application programming interface suite, enabling them to integrate the service directly into their application layer or software.
“Luner’s mission has always been to provide developers and SMEs with the ability to get connected quickly with fantastic flexibility and control,” said Nicola Pickard, Luner’s business-development director, in a prepared statement. “We are very excited to launch our brand-new flat-rate Ultimate IoT SIM, which has the added benefit of being extremely cost-effective, and look forward to enabling our customers to further develop their IoT projects with ease.”