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INDUSTRY NEWS neWs coMMent: iot coMes of age


With an expected 5.2 billion connected devices by 2025, IoT is now a fundamental component of both government policy and corporate strategy. Tracking, monitoring, recording and analysing through an extraordinary array of hugely innovative sensors has already transformed many businesses and industries. Yet, the true power of IoT has been constrained by the limits of fixed and wireless connectivity: just 15% of the planet is currently covered by affordable, accessible IoT. To truly harness the power and sophistication


of IoT, connectivity has to extend around the globe. It needs to be both affordable and accessible – yet the only alternative to wireless networks has been Satellite IoT (SatIoT) at a price that cannot be justified by the vast majority of businesses or use cases. Until now. As Laurent Vieira de Mello, COO, Astrocast


explains, 2022 is set to be a watershed year for Satellite IoT. Affordable, end-to-end technology models are transforming accessibility and unleashing unprecedented innovation that will redefine the power, value and perception of IoT.


Driving value The post-pandemic economy has inspired an evolution in business drivers, with both private and public sector organisations increasingly focused on delivering value – to customers, employees and the wider global stakeholder community. Businesses now need to achieve and


demonstrate true innovation in supply chains that support new efficiency paradigms and deliver tangible shareholder value. Post COP26, environmental protection has risen up the corporate agenda – and companies must prove their sustainability strategies to avoid the risk of greenwash accusations. Agriculture is under enormous pressure to resolve the twin challenges of climate change affecting growing seasons and the estimated need to produce 60% more food by 2050 to feed a world population of 9.3 billion, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).


The continuous connection of IoT has a key role


to play in both enabling the required innovation and proving its value, quickly. Increasingly sophisticated IoT sensors are already embedded within global infrastructure, yet with 85% of the world not covered by cellular technology, IoT is simply not an option for many organisations. Agriculture, for example, is desperate to embrace technologies that will reduce the need for widespread animal medication, minimise the use of chemicals and enable effective responses to the challenges presented by a changing climate. Without complete global coverage, the true power of IoT to enable fundamental change will never be realised.


Cost effective SatIoT With the arrival of cost-effective SatIoT, thousands of assets can now be deployed around


Innovative thinking The ability to work seamlessly with existing cellular IoT solutions, ensuring accurate tracking and monitoring as assets transit between connections, is transforming visibility of global freight assets. In addition to improving efficiency and reducing the financial losses associated with product damage and wastage, this global tracking has the potential to address the huge proportion of vaccines that are damaged, lost or stolen in transit. SatIoT can not only provide confidence in the integrity of the cold chain; but also identify areas of elevated risk, allowing the protection to be prioritised in the right areas, to safeguard this vital global resource. Bidirectional IoT also has a significant role to


play. The ability to send commands back to assets, rather than just receive data, enables an array of new use cases, including remote management of equipment. Farmers can command silos to release food, open gates or manage irrigation systems, without any need for expensive and often hard-to-source human interaction. With information seamlessly integrated with existing analytics, AI, or machine learning solutions, organisations can both utilise this data to improve understanding and use the new insight to inform timely commands to remote assets.


the globe. This is inspiring an extraordinary array of applications that will accelerate change and deliver tangible value. Cost, however, is just one part of the equation. As


a new market for systems integrators, SatIoT raises a new set of challenges as well as opportunities. By default, these IoT solutions are going to be deployed in remote locations, which means minimising the need for human intervention and repair. Device size, power consumption and reliability


are priority concerns. Small-sized devices offering low power consumption is a vital component of the solution, as battery life is extended. Combining good quality battery technology with an intelligent approach to transmission extends the lifecycle of the IoT solution. By ensuring the device is only transmitting when the satellite is in range,


A complete solution Cost-effective SatIoT is opening a new world of opportunities. It is enabling organisations to not simply embark upon innovating thinking, but confidently and rapidly assess the impact and achieve continuous improvement. Critically, it will play a vital role in supporting the next generation of value driven business strategy, environmental change and government policy. Systems integrators with an existing portfolio


of cellular IoT solutions and customers now have the chance to extend their reach and plug the gaps in IoT connectivity, while embracing innovation and truly fulfilling the potential of IoT.


www.astrocast.com conversion kit can turn all bikes into electric ones


Swytch Technology is to launch a pocket-sized eBike battery that turns any bike into an electric bike. The Swytch eBike conversion kit features a battery which is similar in size to a large smart-phone. Capable of providing 250W of power and enough range for a daily commute, the battery weighs only 700g (1.5lb) and can be recharged in around one hour. According to the company, the Swytch Kit is the result of world-class


engineering and design to create a truly revolutionary product that brings affordable cutting-edge technology to the eBike market. It’s advantages are: • A never-seen-before pocket-sized eBike battery. • A flight-safe battery (allowing it to be taken in carry-on luggage). • The cost will be around 4x lower than the price of an eBike with equivalent specifications.


• Customers get to up-cycle their existing bike, making it electric and reducing waste. Swytch’s CTO and co-founder, Dmitro Khroma, explained: “Our new


improved Swytch Kit is a game-changer. It is going to totally disrupt the eBike industry because it is so much lighter, smaller and more affordable than anything else out there.” Swytch’s CEO and co-founder, Oliver Montague, added: “Our job as


innovators is to make environmentally-friendly technology that people want to use because it is cool! That way, a global change to a more sustainable way of life will happen naturally.”


www.swytchbike.com/comingsoon APRIL 2022 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 7


not continuously, radically increases battery life, especially where constant information updates are not required.


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