Overview
An end device consists of a sensor or actuator and a LoRaWAN communications node.
The sensor measures and outputs data while an actuator receives and acts on commands. The role of the LoRaWAN communications node is to transmit and receive data via a wireless LoRaWAN network, generally connected to the Internet.
In many cases, off-the-shelf devices consisting of a sensor and LoRaWAN communications node is suitable. In others, a custom approach is better. For example where:
- The off-the-shelf sensor isn’t already integrated with a LoRaWAN communications node.
- Some specific behaviour or logic from the device is required.
- A LoRaWAN communications node needs to be added to added to an existing device or actuator.
In these and other cases, our custom LoRaWAN communications node is recommended to power and control almost any sensor. The sensor can either be on board (integrated into the enclosure) or standalone (connected with wires to the LoRaWAN node).
Examples For Custom Device
- Remote reading from water or gas or electricity meters
- Battery voltage monitoring
- Soil moisture and temperature
- Non-contact level monitoring of liquids
- Remotely turning on or off something, for example a pump
- Rainfall reporting using a tipping bucket type gauge
- Monitor bin filling using an ultrasonic sensor
Features
- Use any global LoRaWAN frequency band
- Work with any type of sensor output- analogue, pulse or digital (I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO)
- Powered by an internal 3.6V battery or external power
- Able to power and control external sensors
- Maximum transmission power is 14 or 20 dBm to meet local regulations
- An IP65 enclosure that reflects the operating environment
- Internal or external antenna
- Operate with custom firmware to deliver desired behaviour or logic
Our preferred chip is the S76S module from AcSIP which combines a Semtech SX1276 and a 32-bit ultra low power Cortex M0L MCU in a single enclosure. It has sufficient power and memory to run both the LoRaWAN network stack as well as custom firmware.
First Step
Contact us to start the conversation about the first step of designing and prototyping custom hardware. After that, low volume manufacturing and high volume manufacturing follows.