Amid a recent flurry of announcements around LoRa technology and the LoRaWAN protocol, US IoT company finds itself helping out with smart city solutions in the Persian Gulf, microcontroller maker Microchip has integrated with Actility’s ThingPark network to accelerate IoT deployments, and Semtech, itself, has struck a deal with an Indian startup on industrial IoT applications. Here, we catch up…
Senet: Persian Gulf IoT provider chooses Senet software to orchestrate its LoRaWAN smart city apps
US IoT company Senet has struck a deal with Oman-based Imtac to develop LoRaWAN solutions for smart city applications in the Gulf region, including for lighting, asset tracking, water management, and buildings.
Imtac integrates field assets and automation controls to manage and maintain industrial systems through its IoT brand Empyreal. Senet will provide cloud services for Imtac to deploy and manage LoRaWAN connectivity, and expand its smart city offer.
Bruce Chatterley, chief executive at Senet, said: “Senet’s IoT device-to-cloud software and connectivity services help companies like Imtac instrument the physical world and deliver contextualised data to drive digital transformation.”
Mukesh Arora, chief operating officer of Imtac, said: “LoRaWAN is the fastest growing protocol for global IoT connectivity… The partnership with Senet will allow us to extend our vision to include a greater number of smart city applications in the Gulf region.”
Senet offers LoRaWAN coverage and connectivity software in over 80 countries.
Actility: New Microchip SAM R34 system is validated for ThingPark developers in five continents
Connectivity platform provider Actility is working with US integrated circuit manufacturer Microchip Technology to accelerate development of LoRaWAN based IoT solutions.
Microchip has validated the LoRaWAN network stack with its newly launched LoRa-based SAM R34 System-in-Package (SiP) family. It has qualified the hardware through Actility’s ThingPark Connected programme.
IoT products based on the Microchip SiP will work with any LoRaWAN networks deployed by Actility, which the French company puts at 60 national or large scale networks in five continents.
Olivier Hersent, chief executive at Actility, said: “Achieving ThingPark integration at the core of a LoRaWAN stack is a win for device and sensor makers, since it immediately opens their markets to include all operators and service providers using ThingPark Wireless.”
The SAM R34 family combines an ultra-low-power 32-bit microcontroller, sub-GHz LoRa transceiver and software stack, in a 6mm x 6mm package. Its maker reckons it provides the lowest power consumption in sleep mode.
Semtech: Indian startup EasyReach makes industrial IoT sensors compatible with LoRaWAN networks
Indian industrial IoT startup EasyReach Solutions has incorporated LoRa technology, by US chip maker Semtech, into its industrial and smart vehicle monitoring products.
EasyReach has developed LoRa-enabled sensors to include electrical current testing, temperature reading and GPS capabilities.
Its applications for smart industry include sensors for steam traps, concrete mixers, forklifts, diesel tankers, back hoes, water meters, and trucks. EasyReach claims 600 deployments to date.
All are compatible with LoRaWAN networks, and have been verified for GPS tracking ability over eight kilometres, in line of sight.
Amol Vedak, founder and director at EasyReach, said: “LoRa allows us to remotely monitor our equipment and vehicles in ways never before thought possible. It provides the means to manage our industrial resources more intelligently.”
Vivek Mohan, director of IoT, wireless and sensing products at Semtech, said: “The benefits of LoRa go beyond simply providing location information, as supply chain and industrial management companies are looking to more efficiently monitor their equipment health and predict maintenance.”
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