What are the two biggest vertical markets for IoT? The answer may surprise you: transportation and utilities – and they make up more than half of all demand for IoT. Assets like these demand satellite connectivity and innovative technologies because they must operate regardless of cellular or wired coverage. Devices must connect to satellites with small, built-in antennas. They must economically transmit intermittent, short-burst data. They must be low-maintenance and have a long battery life or run on solar power, because many assets have no local power supply. They must also be inexpensive, because IoT applications require edge devices in large numbers.
There is one exception to the requirement that devices be low in cost and as simple as possible. More sophisticated IoT applications can benefit from processing data in the device “at the edge.” Edge processing enables onboard AI that can respond immediately to conditions it detects, eliminating the transmission lag. It can also aggregate data and prioritise data packets, which reduce transmission volume and costs.
The right trade-off between keeping devices simple and adding edge processing depends on the application and the potential it offers for new capabilities as well as more efficient transmission. One example is monitoring of pipelines in remote areas. If a sensor detects a problematic rise or fall in pressure, edge-processing devices can open and close valves or remotely shut down pumps. Automating those decisions can make the difference between a temporary outage and a catastrophic loss.
To tap the value of IoT in major verticals, from transportation to utilities, companies need connectivity and technology suited to their specialised needs. Low-cost, low-power, multimode devices that can send just the required data in short, economical messages fit the bill – and are opening up markets that can’t be served any other way.
For more information, visit GlobalStar’s website HERE.
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