Series production of the tracking solution träck is running at full speed. The first deliveries will take place as early as October.
Digital device management requires one thing above all: transparency. Creating more transparency in processes is SenseING's main goal. SenseING relies on complete IoT solutions that are delivered pre-configured and can be put into operation in just a few steps. This also applies to the tracking solution träck, which was developed specifically for use in the construction industry. In the future, the solution, which consists of three components, will ensure more transparency on construction sites and building yards, because it can be used to track small equipment such as vibratory plates, compressors, etc. as live inventories, automate prescriptions, reduce search times and thus increase productivity.
The principle is very simple: All devices and tools to be tracked receive a tracker (transmitter). Construction sites and warehouses/building yards are equipped with gateways (receivers). The trackers exchange collected data via radio technology. LoRa with the gateway. The gateway in turn sends the data into an IoT platform using the mobile network and into existing systems via standardised interfaces.
At the centre of the solution is the tracker, which is just 40×40 mm in size and is now being produced by the thousand. It contains climate and motion sensors, which make it possible to derive information about the status and utilisation of the devices. The compact tracker shines especially with its battery life, because thanks to its low energy consumption it achieves battery runtimes of up to four years.
Do you need implementable device management? Contact us right now for more information.
In the construction industry, extensive inventories and the parallel handling of many projects are not uncommon. Maintaining an overview is a real challenge. In this article, we explain how you can simplify the administration process by digitizing your equipment management.
Construction project management and the associated logistics, i.e. getting equipment and goods to the right place at the right time, is a mammoth task. The many parallel project locations and a large number of changing players provide many sources of error in the exchange of information. It is therefore not uncommon for equipment and goods to be unused and available in excessive quantities at project sites, while they are urgently needed elsewhere. In addition, project sites often exchange equipment among themselves without having passed through a central warehouse beforehand. It is almost impossible to maintain an overview. This in turn leads to unproductive time and significantly increases search times. In the worst case, costs are even incurred for the superfluous acquisition of new equipment or new purchases due to losses.
Digitize device management through tracking
Device management in construction is a big lever for efficiency and effectiveness in construction. IoT devices operate this very lever. By equipping equipment with trackers and equipping warehouses and construction sites with gateways, construction companies obtain digital inventories. On the one hand, the software makes it possible to see which devices or goods are in the warehouses at the current time, which devices are at which construction site, or where a device is currently located. This also makes it possible to track the relocation of equipment between projects.
A vibrating plate is equipped with a small LoRa tracker and sends data to the IoT platform.
Time saving thanks to live inventory
Digitizing equipment management optimizes the logistics process in the construction industry on various levels. On the one hand, this actively reduces search times, because the location of a piece of equipment can be found out with just a few clicks. This makes time-consuming phone calls or even searches a thing of the past. On the other hand, it significantly reduces non-productive time, thanks to the faster provision of equipment.
Automated prescription on projects
The time savings are also noticeable in administration. The tracking system posts devices to the corresponding projects completely automatically. This significantly reduces the administrative effort and prevents incorrect bookings.
Reduction of the inventory according to demand
Acceleration and climate sensors installed in the trackers provide information about the utilization of equipment. In this way, historical data can be used to avoid superfluous new purchases or even to optimize the equipment fleet according to need on the basis of the data.
Conclusion
It has long been clear that digitization is not a trend, but a task that will take a lot of work off our hands in the future in our private and, above all, our business lives. It goes without saying that the integration of IoT systems and trackers involves investments. But those who take the step will quickly realize the enormous added value that digital helpers can deliver. Because information can be retrieved with just a few clicks, automated processes in the background and the considerable acceleration of communication ensure that device management is only a secondary matter.
Logistics is one of the largest and most dynamic industries and therefore also one of the industries that benefits most from digitalization through IoT solutions. But in which areas are IoT solutions used and which solutions are available? Find out in this article.
Logistics, i.e. the planning, coordination and control of the flow of products, raw materials and information, is indispensable for the economy. In Germany alone, the logistics industry turned over around 279 billion euros in 2020 (source: Statista - Sales of the logistics industry in Germany), making it one of the three largest industries in Germany. Hardly any other industry holds more potential for the use of intelligent solutions, because countless process data are generated along a supply chain. In other words, there are countless opportunities to network processes and optimize operations.
But why is the digitization of logistics so important?
The logistics industry has been on a growth course for years, with Corona playing a major role in the industry's 26.5% growth in 2020. Further growth is also expected in the coming years thanks to e-commerce. The increased volume requires companies to work ever more efficiently. This in turn requires transparent processes, because efficiency depends heavily on the clarity and networking of a supply chain. There are numerous advantages that networked supply chains bring with them:
Cost savings: The avoidance of unnecessary transport, optimization of delivery routes and better capacity utilization ensure cost savings. In addition, inventories can be optimized and the associated costs reduced.
Increased speed: One of the most significant advantages of digital logistics is speed, which can be significantly increased through full networking. Digital solutions collect data, evaluate it and deliver optimized results for storage or transport.
Reduction of error-proneness: Digitization replaces paper and analog planning charts. This reduces sources of error and processes can be called up digitally at any time.
Environmental protection: Digital assistants report optimal routes as well as suggestions for improving the driver's driving style.
A returnable transport package collects data via a tracker.
What are the options?
IoT systems can add value to logistics processes in a wide variety of places. In the area of freight, for example, goods are networked with trackers or beacons. This prevents loss or damage to the goods and provides transparency along the entire supply chain. Trackers can provide great added value, especially in the area of food logistics. The continuous recording of temperature and humidity by means of sensors fulfills fully automated documentation requirements for temperature-controlled transports. At the same time, the trackers ensure the safety of the food.
The IoT also makes everyday life easier in transport vehicles. Here, data on the status of vehicles can be used to maintain them in advance (predictive maintenance). This saves costs and, above all, time-consuming breakdowns.
Not least in the area of order picking, IoT systems speed up processes. Here, for example, pick-by-light systems ensure higher speeds by providing visual signals to indicate the correct compartment to the pickers. More comprehensive systems also indicate the correct number of items.
The possibilities are many and the ever-increasing volume of goods to be processed requires the logistics company to work ever more efficiently, because outdated technologies and processes are no longer competitive.
IoT applications are used in almost all areas of our lives. They are designed to improve our lives, optimize processes or network machines and devices. The Internet of Things plays an important role in the climate crisis in particular
Protecting our environment and climate has never been more urgent. CO2 emissions and numerous man-made substances are polluting our environment. Last but not least, technological progress is the cause of the climate crisis. The current situation encourages us to rethink. Many companies are already endeavoring to assume social responsibility and commit themselves to a sustainable economy. In the coming years, we can expect sustainability goals to establish themselves as an essential part of our economy, because wherever resources are procured and consumed, there are also consequences for our environment. Thus, the overarching goal is to manage the procurement and consumption of resources in a more intelligent and targeted way. This in turn requires transparent processes.
IoT in the fight against climate change
Die Anzahl von IoT-Geräten wächst rasant, so sind für das Jahr 2025 bereits 19 Milliarden vernetzte IoT-Geräte weltweit prognostiziert (Quelle: Statista – IoT connected devices worldwide). In Form von intelligenten Uhren, Smartphones, Haushaltsgeräten, Herzmonitoren und vielen anderen kommen sie tagtäglich zum Einsatz. Auch im Bereich des Umweltschutzes können die smarten Geräte einen erheblichen Mehrwert leisten, denn sie sammeln Daten und ermöglichen es uns dadurch bessere und fundierte sowie kontrollierte Entscheidungen zu treffen. Echtzeit Pegelstände von Flüssen, Frühwarnsysteme für Hochwasser, IoT zur Frühwarnung bei Waldbränden oder intelligente Straßenbeleuchtung – die Möglichkeiten im Kampf gegen den Klimawandel sind weitreichend.
Smart-Cities
The modern city of tomorrow collects large amounts of data and analyzes it. The collected data improves processes in the infrastructure or in service areas. For example, waste garbage cans and glass containers are monitored with fill level sensors, which saves unnecessary service trips and thus CO2 emissions. Smart parking, i.e. directing a driver to the nearest available parking space, can also provide such added value. If you consider that 30% of all emissions caused by traffic are due to the search for a parking space, this makes a significant difference.
Smart-Homes
A smart home not only makes our everyday lives easier by allowing the sensors and devices it contains to communicate with each other via the Internet, it also saves money and thus resources. For example, intelligent heating systems regulate the temperature according to schedules or through automated presence detection. Smart blinds or shutters can be used for intelligent shading. This keeps the living space cool, even without air conditioners. There are also smart gadgets for saving water, for example, which notify us by visual signals as soon as a certain consumption level is reached during showering. In the garden, smart and sensor-controlled irrigation systems ensure that the watering is timed and tailored to the needs of the garden.
Smart-Factories
There is also enormous potential for savings in factories. Here, the use of IoT systems can save energy in the form of light and heat, similar to the smart home. In addition, predictive maintenance saves spare parts in production. There is particular potential for optimization in the supply chain of companies. This can be optimized through the use of IoT devices to such an extent that factories need less storage space, which reduces energy requirements.
The potential applications for optimizing processes are far-reaching and IoT devices are no longer dreams of the future. Therefore, it is now up to us to use the potential of the Internet of Things and create a more sustainable world with creative ideas.
Rapid prototyping allows ideas to be implemented quickly. Especially in research and development, there seem to be no limits. But what exactly is rapid prototyping? And why is the process particularly advantageous in product development?
In 2004, surgeons in Dallas, Texas, successfully separated two-year-old Egyptian twins who had grown together at the head. The 34-hour operation was a complete success. The complicated procedure was only possible because surgeons were able to plan the complex operation using accurate anatomical models of the twins' skulls and vascular structures of their brains. A large number of these models are made using rapid prototyping. In this process, the boys' skulls were replicated using a 3D printing process with transparent acrylic. This gave the surgeons an unprecedented insight.
The technology, which was considered a sensation at the time, is now, 18 years later, an indispensable part of everyday life in many research and development departments and continues to produce fascinating results.
What exactly is rapid prototyping?
Rapid prototyping refers to a group of manufacturing processes. The processes produce a scalable model of a workpiece or product in a short time using three-dimensional CAD data. In addition to rapid prototyping, the manufacturing processes are also referred to as 3D printing or additive manufacturing processes. Here, a workpiece or product is created by applying materials layer by layer. This is usually done by means of physical or chemical effects in the form of heat or electromagnetic waves.
3D Printing via Fused Deposition Modeling (FMD)
Probably the best-known process in the field of rapid prototyping is 3D printing using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Here, filamentary plastic, which is also known as filament, is melted by heat in a nozzle and applied layer by layer to the so-called print bed. This form of 3D printing is particularly convincing due to its low cost and speed of implementation. It is therefore well suited for use in the early stages of development.
Rapid prototyping enables developers and designers in particular to quickly make their ideas tangible. Initial designs and ideas thus not only appear in sketches and simulations, but can also be examined haptically.
Advantages of Rapid Prototyping
Saving money and time: With 3D printing, there are no manufacturing costs for tools. The devices can get started immediately after a very short setup time. In addition, a wide variety of geometries can be produced with one and the same device.
Better feedback through physical modelsThe fast prototypes can be examined in much more detail and from all sides haptically. They can also be used for presentation purposes.
Optimize the product at an early stage: Prototypes are produced at a very early stage of DevelopmentThis means that feedback can be taken into account right from the start of development. The use of the prototypes in tests also provides information about the function.
Waste reduction: Compared to subtractive manufacturing processes, such as milling or turning, in which material is removed from a raw material, rapid prototyping significantly avoids or reduces scrap material.
Rapid prototyping in product development
Especially in the area of product development, the fast and uncomplicated production of a prototype can be of great advantage. This is because 3D printing significantly reduces the time between a 3D design file and a production-ready product. Developers and product designers gain a comprehensive understanding of the product at an early stage of the project and can optimize the product virtually by gaining real-life experience of using it. Thanks to the quickly available prototypes, several development steps can also be initiated, which also has a very positive effect on the development period. Customers and project partners also gain an early impression of the product and can introduce change requests before high costs arise.
When dealing with digitalization, smart cities or the Internet of Things (IoT), the importance of energy-efficient wireless technologies is obvious. In this context, we are increasingly hearing about the LoRa or LoRaWAN radio standard. But what is it actually and how does it differ from other radio technologies?
First of all, we need to look at the big picture. LoRaWAN stands for "Long Range Wide Area Network", which means network with a long range. The network was developed specifically for the IoT (Internet of Things), i.e. the networking of objects and machines. As a rule, it consists of three components:
Sensors and LoRa transmitters (Colloquially also called "end node"): Capture data and send it to a gateway via LoRa.
LoRa Gateway: Receives data from the sensors and forwards it to a server.
Server/Cloud: Receives, processes and visualizes data.
LoRaWAN thus describes the entire structure of the network and the communication between the individual components.
LoRa Lora, on the other hand, stands for "Long Range" and refers to the radio technology that enables the communication link over long distances. The radio technology is used exclusively in the communication between the sensors and the gateways.
LoRa gateway in a warehouse
What about the security of wireless technology?
Due to the high energy efficiency of radio technology, it is possible to operate devices for very long periods of time despite radio. It is therefore important that the technology's security mechanisms are future-proof. LoRaWAN therefore uses standardized end-to-end encryption algorithms. The data to be transmitted is therefore encrypted on the sender side and only decrypted again at the receiver. The key required for this is exclusively in the possession of the receiver. (Source: LoRa Alliance)
Operation in private or in community network?
The open source principle of LoRaWAN enables operation both in one's own network and the use of so-called community networks. If you only want to operate in a limited area, it can make sense to operate your own gateways and servers. If, however, one is dependent on an extensive network, one can, for example, fall back on the community network "The Things Network (TTN)".
The Things Network (TTN)
The Things Network is a global, open and decentralized network funded by a community. The goal of the TTN is to establish a global IoT radio network based on LoRa. So anyone who is part of the TTN and operates their own gateway also supplies their surroundings and contributes to a nationwide radio network. In this way, private individuals can also contribute to coverage.
Comparison with other wireless technologies
Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WLAN achieve maximum ranges of up to 100 meters under optimum conditions. In most cases, this is not sufficient for industrial applications, since company premises or construction sites often extend over larger areas. In addition, transmitting with WLAN requires about three times as much energy as transmitting with LoRa, making it rather unsuitable for battery-powered sensors.
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) radio technology is also one of the trend setters in the IoT. It is equally convincing in terms of energy efficiency and a long range. Nevertheless, the technologies differ in many respects. The biggest difference is in the structure of the network. While the network structure of LoRaWAN in most cases consists of sensors, gateways and servers, NB-IoT relies on an existing mobile network. Thus, all that is needed is a compatible sensor. The network for data exchange is provided by telecommunications providers. However, this means that costs are incurred in the form of data tariffs (SIM card) for using the network.
LoRa
WiFi
NB-IoT
Bluetooth
Frequency
868 MHz
2,4 GHz 5 GHz
800 MHz 900 MHz 1800 MHz
2,45 GHz
Building penetration
+
–
+
–
Energy demand
+
–
+
+
Operating costs
+
+
–
+
The benefits
High range of up to 10 km
Good penetration of buildings. Reaching basement rooms or goods in freight containers is possible without any problems.
Very low power requirements ensure maximum battery life for the sensors.
LoRaWAN is open source. So there are no license fees or charges for data transmission.
Possible applications
With its long range and low power consumption, LoRa is particularly suitable for sensors or applications in which small amounts of data are sent at long intervals. This includes, for example, control commands, status messages or updated sensor data.
In the smart city sector, for example, this can be used to monitor parking space control with parking space sensors. In addition, waste containers can be equipped with fill level sensors so that waste disposal companies can optimize their routes.
In the field of logistics, LoRa sensors can be used for tracking goods or transport monitoring.
LoRa sensors are also ideal for fleet management or asset tracking, i.e. monitoring goods or equipment.
Digitization is in full swing. One buzzword that is heard again and again is IoT, but what is IoT and what does it do?
Networking is already part of everyday life in many areas. But especially in our lives. For example, it is completely normal for us to share pictures and posts on social networks, or for our smartwatch to provide us with daily information about our fitness status. The Internet of Things now aims to transfer precisely this degree of networking to all other physical objects. However, it is not possible to give a universally valid definition for the Internet of Things, because it has an astonishing diversity. However, the basic structure is identical in most cases and consists of the following components:
Objects The starting point of the Internet of Things is objects to be monitored or connected.
Sensors The sensors attached to the objects, record data.
Communication There are various models for transferring data. Well-known wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WLAN are often used. Technologies such as LoRa® and NB-IoT are also being used more and more frequently.
Infrastructure Cloud platforms collect and store the data. It is here that the actual added value of the Internet of Things develops. This is where the evaluation and conversion of data into information takes place.
Which industries can benefit from the IoT?
There are virtually no limits to the areas of application for IoT solutions. Almost in every industry, added value can be created through its use. There are basically two possibilities for this:
Networking productss In this approach, sensors are integrated directly into a new product. This serves to open up new business areas or improve the user experience.
Networking processes There are numerous possibilities for networking processes and workflows. In addition to automating processes, maintenance cycles can be predicted, locations can be determined, and environments can be monitored.
Examples of IoT applications:
Construction industry: A sensor system consisting of trackers, a gateway and a cloud application provides data on the location and condition of devices and goods. The use of the data can, for example, automate prescription processes, reduce search times and adapt the equipment fleet to meet demand.
Smart-City: Sensors in waste garbage cans record the fill level and inform the responsible waste disposal companies as soon as they need to be emptied.
Food transportation: Sensors monitor the temperature of food to check whether quality requirements have been met.
Facilities Management: A sensor system monitors temperature, humidity, gas concentration, brightness and volume and detects deviations from optimal working conditions. This can have a positive effect on the ability to learn and concentrate. In addition, the collection of data can also optimize cleaning processes in buildings, for example.
What advantages does this bring?
Roughly speaking, all kinds of processes can be automated by networking objects, items or devices. Due to the versatility of the Internet of Things, numerous advantages result from the collected data. For example, maintenance can be better planned, errors or even failures can be predicted before they occur, or devices can be tracked via GPS. Ultimately, the benefits of networking result in savings and maximized transparency of internal processes.
