Semtech Corp., a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and algorithms, has announced the release of its Smart Building Reference Kit, a collection of Internet of Things (IoT) tools designed to accelerate the development of smart-building solutions based on LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol, and to facilitate a portable demonstration of these solutions.
“The Semtech Smart Building Reference Kit is an excellent way to promote the use of LoRa,” said Wiljan van Loon, Securitas Services Europe’s strategic development director, in a prepared statement. “At the recent Securitas European CTO meeting in Paris, the kit was presented and provided our organization insight into the possibilities of deploying LoRa-based devices for the security industry. The diverse range of sensors as well the easy set-up of this kit support our organization to promote and deploy LoRa-based IoT technology both internally, and for our clients, growing our business.”
According to the company, the kit will allow users to monitor doors and windows, desk and room presence, environmental conditions and water intrusion. It comes with more than 20 sensors, two gateways and a global 4G hotspot for simplified setup, and its portable nature allows users to move sensor locations to assess network coverage.
“Semtech’s Smart Building Reference Kit will empower potential customers to utilize LoRa technology and the LoRaWAN protocol in the development of their own smart-building applications,” said Byron BeMiller, the director of vertical marketing for smart buildings with Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group, in the prepared statement. “Customers will be able to quickly create simple smart-building networks without needing to have extensive knowledge of IoT technologies. All tools included in the kit rely only on readily accessible hardware and software.”
IoT devices in commercial real estate have grown from 71.2 million in 2015 to more than 791 million this year, Semtech reports. Despite the continued growth of IoT for smart buildings, the highly technical nature of the Internet of Things serves as a barrier to entry for many potential businesses. LoRa technology enables a range of smart-building solutions, Semtech explains; buildings present unique challenges for radio coverage and frequently require companies to place sensors in difficult-to-reach locations.
LoRa’s ability to cover deep indoor locations within a building’s structure, and to offer a long battery life, make it suitable for smart-building projects, Semtech notes. Through the creation of a self-contained kit, the firm aims to simplify the testing of LoRa-based products in a smart-building environment and to support LoRa-based developers and end users.