FreeWave to Attend Three Industry Events This Week
FreeWave is taking on three major events across the globe this week to showcase our latest and greatest Industrial IoT Solutions, including a couple new product releases (read about them here and here). We will be attending IWCE, Internet of Things North America and IoT Asia. At IWCE and IoT Asia, we will be showcasing our latest technology in the exhibit halls. Find us at Booth #768 at IWCE and #E28 at IoT Asia. During exhibit hours, we will be offering live demos of our S2S communication solutions. We will also have company experts giving educational sessions at Internet of Things North America and IWCE. Here’s the rundown for each show: Speaking at IoT North America Sensor-2-Server: Execute Locally, Communicate Globally Wednesday, March 29 at 3:45 p.m. The idea of comparing data in motion (at the sensor level) to data at rest (in a big data server warehouse) with predictive analytics in the cloud is very appealing to many industrial customers. However, the problem is access to that data in motion at the sensor location. The increasing shift toward Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) tends to bring up a lot of questions about the continued value of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems that have traditionally served as the driver for monitoring and control in industrial markets. Although OT and IT are beginning to converge, there is still high demand for SCADA data. However, new technology offers the opportunity for data to be used in ways that were previously not possible, such as predictive analytics. This doesn’t make SCADA obsolete, as many operators are using it and will continue to employ it. Speaking at IWCE FAN, Smart Grid and SCADA: The Original IoT Thursday, March 30 in Room S224 from 10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. The increasing shift toward Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) tends to bring up a lot of questions about the continued value of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems that have traditionally served as the driver for monitoring and control in industrial markets. Although OT and IT are beginning to converge, there is still high demand for SCADA data. However, new technology, such as Field Area Networking (FAN), offers the opportunity for data to be used in ways that were previously not possible, such as predictive analytics. SCADA may not be obsolete, but examine how it and FAN fit into this new world of smart grids and smart cities. Network Management and Cybersecurity for IoT: The First Step to Smarter Cities Thursday, March 30 in Room S224 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. IoT management systems that are able to extend control over a wide net of dissimilar technologies and provide relevant personnel with timely actionable-intelligence are essential components to these next-generation networks. Examine the hardware and software of fully-automated management systems, able to function autonomously and “intelligently” beyond the network edge to collect, analyze and decide on the best course from a set of alternative actions. Then explore the security goals you need to have in place with the influx of IoT information and the resulting IT/ OT convergence, including who is responsible for the overall security of IoT management systems. Products Featured at IWCE Booth (#768) and IoT Asia Booth (#E28) WaveContact Family (https://www.freewave.com/wavecontact-wireless-oilfield/) – WaveContact Modular wireless systems provide rugged, simple and flexible communication solutions that are easily and quickly deployable. WaveContact products interface with a wide variety of sensors deployed in industrial and critical infrastructure markets such as oil and gas, electric power, water and wastewater and environmental monitoring. The product line is built for short-range field applications where simplicity and ease of use in Class 1 Division 1 hazardous locations are critical for success. ZumLink IIoT Programmable Radio (IPR) (https://www.freewave.com/products/zumlink-ipr-iiot-programmable-radio/) – The industry’s first wireless IIoT radio capable of supporting third party applications for Edge and Fog Computing in Industrial IoT (IIoT) communication networks. FreeWave’s IPR can support JAVA, Python, C, C+ and GO, and it connects to any IT device or sensor. The platform is capable of hosting third party and proprietary IoT applications for energy, utility, municipal, smart city, government and military use cases. ZumLink Z9-C and Z9-T (https://www.freewave.com/products/zumlink-900-series/) – Serial radio modules for OEM and Embedded wireless applications. The ZumLink Z9-C and Z9-T are ideally suited for unmanned systems and other industrial machines and solutions that require highly reliable, high-speed data communications and networking. WavePro (http://go.freewave.com/l/68372/2015-12-16/37myq8) – Designed to secure and transport Voice, Video, Data and Sensor (VVDS™) information, this cost-effective, high-speed, rugged wireless communication platform is specifically designed for outdoor industrial locations and has proven reliability in extreme environmental conditions. It’s an ideal field area network solution for oil and gas, utilities, mining, power plants, municipalities, disaster recovery or for any other applications that require remote and resilient Wi-Fi connectivity in nontraditional settings. Are you attending any of these events? Be sure to stop by the IWCE and IoT Asia booths for a demo of our latest offerings. Or, stop in for one of our educational sessions.
April 2017 Changes to RMA Program
Please note that effective April 3, 2017, FreeWave is discontinuing the Discount RMA Program for Out of Warranty items within its commercial markets (Government and Defense customers will continue as per their contracts). However, until June 1, 2017 , FreeWave will allow last time purchases under the Discount RMA Program guidelines for commercial customers. After June 1, 2017, FreeWave will not offer discounts on out of warranty radios under any circumstance. Because we anticipate a high volume of RMA requests during this period, please allow for a 3-5 business day turn around on request processing. We appreciate your understanding and patience on this matter. If you have any questions or if you would like to learn about new replacement models, please contact us at moreinfo@freewave.com or (866) 923-6168.
FreeWave – IWCE Booth #768
If you plan to attend IWCE 2017 this year (March 27-31, 2017), don’t forgot to stop by Booth #768 to learn more about our new products: ZumLink 900 Series, ZumLink IPR, WavePro and WAVECONTACT. We’ll have some very exciting announcements at IWCE, so please stop on by!
What’s Your Emergency Communications Plan?
As our cities become increasingly connected and transform into Smart Cities, there is an opportunity to streamline emergency communications. Cities and municipalities can leverage a variety of advanced technologies and incorporate them into their own emergency communication plans. Emergency management decision makers tasked with improving city-wide emergency and disaster plans now have access to technology that can assure connectivity in the harshest weather or environmental conditions; increase visibility into dangerous environments; and, optimize response times. Wireless Short-haul for the Win Wireless short-haul solutions can create an industrial-strength Wi-Fi connection that was built to withstand earth’s most challenging conditions. These Sensor-2-Server (S2S) types of technologies are used for a variety of municipal and government use cases, but they are particularly suited for outdoor communication needs. While they are often used for day-to-day use, such as traffic management, they are a viable option for providing secure, reliable connectivity as part of any city or local government’s emergency communication plan. VVDS for Emergencies With an industrially hardened, high-speed wireless short-haul solution in place, cities can experience the benefits of Voice, Video, Data and Sensor (VVDS) information, even when cell towers are overloaded. In a world where we increasingly rely on connectivity, it is essential to keep government and municipalities online during the worst-case scenario. Industrial-grade Wi-Fi that is tested and proven in the most extreme weather conditions is designed with that in mind – keeping local government officials and first responders online. As a result, rescue efforts stay motion. With a VVDS-enabled technology in place, first responders achieve additional visibility into conditions. This real-time view allows for fast action that minimizes collateral damage. It also protects first responders, giving them an advantage in dangerous situations and offering a real-time view of environment they are heading into. Secure, Reliable Solutions Industrial wireless short-haul networks also offer the benefits of being highly secure. There are solutions with encryption capabilities that prevent data hijacking. As more cities become Smart Cities, decision makers will need to make Smarter emergency communication plans that align with the new technology landscape. There are S2S solutions on the market today that are designed for unrelenting performance in the outdoors. These solutions enable better response times, secure data transmission, increased visibility and higher-level risk assessment. When emergencies strike, every moment counts. Having a reliable connection can make the difference in saving lives. Is your city leveraging wireless short-haul solutions for emergency preparedness?
Busting the Myths About FHSS for Industrial IoT
IT/OT convergence has shaken the way businesses operate from a networking, connectivity and communications perspective. As IT decision makers look to find technology that will support the needs of modern digital networks, it is easy to overlook Radio Frequency (RF) solutions. Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology is a viable option that has been around for decades. With the right solution in place, FHSS technology is reliable and robust enough to get important data from the field back to the central office. With newer, high-speed and high-throughput options, it can be ideal for helping solve modern convergence challenges. FHSS technology is well-known for its use in OT networks in industrial settings, but the IT side might not be as familiar with the technology. There are a number of myths about FHSS technology that need to be clarified in order for an IT decision maker to understand its potential. Today we’re going to bust three big myths: Myth One: FHSS Technology is Not Secure Enough for Modern IIoT Networks 900 MHz FHSS technology leverages an unlicensed spectrum which has led to the misperception that it is vulnerable to jamming and DoS attacks. The reality is that the signal is constantly hopping in the spectrum and does not stay on a single frequency for long. This one of its greatest strengths and makes it much more difficult to jam. IT decision makers who are greatly concerned with security should also know that some manufacturers offer two layers of security. The first is the natural built-in protection from the frequency hopping and the second is 128 or 256 bit AES encryption. Myth Two: Crowded Spectrums Lead to Poor Coverage Network congestion is a long-standing misperception associated with FHSS technology. Operators are often concerned that performance could be affected in an unlicensed spectrum if too many devices are trying to use it at once. However, the frequency hopping nature of the technology actually serves as a strength. The jumping allows the technology to identify the better channels, even in areas that are known for being noisy and congested. FHSS technology has been proven and trusted by the U.S. military for decades to perform in situations where lives are on the line. Myth Three: FHSS Technology is Best Suited for Industrial Environments Like Oil and Gas In oil and gas and military circles, FHSS is frequently used and widely known as a strong wireless communication option. However, the technology may not even be on the radar of an IT decision maker tasked with new responsibilities as the OT/IT divide closes. What IT decision makers need to know is that FHSS technology is also currently used in networks completely outside the scope of traditional industrial networking. Here are a handful of unique ways FHSS is currently being used: Oceanic Monitoring and mapping Auto and Boat Racing Testing for Electric Cars Plant Automation Asset Tracking in Healthcare Golf Course Communications and Golf Cart Monitoring Aquarium research A Good Fit FHSS technology fits nicely into the evolving technology landscape – especially when data needs to be transported from the access layer back to the business office. Despite the challenges that OT and IT teams face as they learn to work closer together, FHSS remains a proven, reliable option to help bridge the gap.
IT/OT Convergence – The Impact from the Industrial Internet of Things
Without question, the number of connected sensors and devices on your IIoT network are going to increase, and also without question, the volume of data created by these devices on your IIoT network are going to increase as well. Both increases are intended to improve operational efficiency and streamline business processes. As a result, your Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) departments will likely need to adopt new strategies. An increasingly popular strategy is IT/OT convergence. The Bandwidth Burden For many industries, SCADA and M2M networks have historically used serial communications for operational networks. This has changed and is changing for many. As networks transition from serial to Ethernet communications, data is now freed for routing to any business system. There is a new twist for SCADA, M2M and now IIoT networks that have limited bandwidth capabilities. With more business systems needing critical data to improve business process, utilization of bandwidth on networks with already-limited bandwidth is also increasing based on the traditional Poll/Response or Request/Response model. To reduce the bandwidth burden, systems are now transitioning from Poll/Response operation to a Publish/Subscribe model. There are several benefits to the Publish/Subscribe model. Sensors or devices in bandwidth limited networks can publish data when events change or select criteria are met. This reduces the demand for network bandwidth in two ways; 1) there is no prerequisite Poll message, and 2) devices publish when needed. Publish data is routed to a Broker or Publish/Subscribe server that operates on networks where network bandwidth is not a limitation so any number of subscribers can subscribe needed data without burdening the IIoT network. While the Publish/Subscribe model is a significant improvement to IIoT network efficiency, it is not a panacea for all operational information. Network monitoring systems, e.g. SNMP based systems, will still need to poll devices to gather operational, performance and prescriptive data; essential for proactively maintaining an efficient and operational IIoT network. Secure Devices to Support Convergence Newer sensors and devices are also being designed with security in mind because no legitimate manufacturer wants their IIoT device to be part of a DDoS attack, as we saw in 2016 with the Mirai DDoS attack. While IIoT device security services and features are rapidly improving, it is still incumbent on OT and IT organizations to: Train personnel on network security because the human element can still be the weakest part of any network, e.g. phishing emails, Deploy networks with Defense in Depth so there are numerous barriers to obstruct and deter entry with timely audit trails to identify entry, and Perform periodic Risk Assessments and implement action plans. SCADA, M2M and IIoT networks are operating more as IT networks thanks to the close work between OT and IT groups and their convergence. Want to learn more on this topic? Join my presentation at the ENTELEC conference on Thursday, April, 27, 2017 at 2 p.m.
What’s New in IIoT
Industrial IoT (IIoT) is making waves as we inch closer to the end of the first quarter of 2017. Recently, Network World and Forbes, published articles exploring the proliferation of Smart Sensors deployed for Edge networks. We are starting to see more coverage addressing the big challenges of IIoT, as well as the big opportunities. Other, IIoT-focused publications continue to highlight the latest mega-trends and research from leaders in the IIoT trenches. Recent IIoT Headlines Four Artificial Intelligence Challenges Facing the Industrial IoT By @AAllsbrook | Published on @Forbes “Companies building IoT devices are solving this challenge by using gateways, also known as edge-based processing, to connect to cloud-based IoT platforms. This enables the machines to get data to the internet. However, connecting devices isn’t as easy as updating software; instead, it’s an investment in retrofitting old machines, replacing existing equipment, and enabling a workforce to leverage this equipment.” 5 Things to Think about for Industrial IoT Readiness By @ryan4francis | Published on @NetworkWorld “In order to achieve the full potential of the IIoT, the gap between these two cultures needs to be bridged so that the competing priorities of IT and OT are met. We’re beginning to see the emergence of “industrial technologists,” who bring a combined IT/OT perspective to the enterprise. These “industrial technologists” understand that for IIoT to be a reality, “always on” availability needs must be met. Because they live in both worlds, they play a key role in meeting both OT and IT priorities.” 3 Keys to Financial Success in the Industrial Internet of Things By @Scott_Nelson19 | Published on @CIOonline “One of the most frequent misperceptions about the IIoT is that it is all about the machines. Traditionally automation saves cost by reducing the number of people required to operate the line. The machines are important, but today operational improvement, particularly of legacy systems, comes from leveraging and facilitating human knowledge and action.” IoT Edge Shifts Data Gravity in the Enterprise By @AAllsbrook | Published on @iotagenda “But the internet of things is changing this gravitational constant in our technical universe. As IoT matures, the black holes of data gravity we have been placing into clouds will be ripped apart by millions of smaller data planets. These smaller planets will be located in our factories, warehouses, buildings, homes and everywhere else IoT runs to make data actionable.” Smart Grid: Overcoming Data Exchange to Increase Efficiency By @S_Allen_IIoT | Published on @SmartDataCo “As sensors bring connectivity to more endpoints than ever before, utility decision makers are able to obtain detailed data for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Distribution Automation (DA) networks. With rugged wireless solutions, the sensor data is readily available in real-time for IT decision makers. The unrestricted access to data from all network endpoints forces decision makers to shift their focus from Big Data to Smart Data – the data that matters most to the business. It also drives the need for real-time analytics in order to streamline operations. This not only simplifies the convergence issue, but it drives Smart Grid efficiency.”
Smart Grid: Overcoming the Challenges to Increase Efficiency
Recent research estimates that the Smart Grid will be a $120 Billion industry by 2020. As Industrial IoT (IIoT) drives digital transformation for utilities, there are a fair share of challenges and opportunities facing the Smart Grid industry today. To keep up with rapid growth and new technology that is shaping the utility markets in particular, Smart Grid decision makers must continue to improve efficiency. This allows the organization to leverage better data and make smart business decisions that align with an increasingly connected infrastructure. The Convergence Challenge In utilities markets, the IT/OT divide is rapidly shrinking, revealing significant challenges between the two groups. OT and IT each come to the convergence line with functional and operational differences, yet the changing technology landscape makes it impossible to avoid the inevitable meshing of the two formerly disparate organizations. As Smart Grid decision makers adjust to this shift, strong communication between teams will be essential – as well as careful selection of technology. For example, if utilities can work to integrate their legacy systems on the OT side with the more modern IT systems through a carefully selected communication solution, the Smart Grid will become more efficient, leading to better business decisions, as well as improved system operations and overall visibility. Going Digital IT/OT convergence, coupled with the new digital landscape has also driven Smart Grid organizations to reorganize under IT and address new technology challenges from a jobs perspective. Utilities are facing an ageing, traditional workforce on the OT side coming head-to-head with a new digital-centric workforce on the IT side. For Smart Grid organizations, it is essential to find the balance between hiring new technology savvy talent and nurturing existing staff. IoT will continue to drive automation, as Smart Grid decision makers either upgrade their legacy systems or figure out how to connect existing ones. We may see an increase in privately funded secondary education programs designed to create a more skilled workforce. If decision makers embrace the inevitable shift to digital, they will not only see the impact on efficiency, but they will stay competitive in an IoT driven market. Smart Sensor Boom IoT sparked a digital technology shift that resulted in the proliferation of Smart Sensors. Now utilities are able to monitor and transfer critical data from any asset – from the network Edge back to the central office. The demand for sensors hasn’t slowed – research is pointing towards continued and substantial growth in the Smart Sensor market between now and 2021. As sensors bring connectivity to more endpoints than ever before, utility decision makers are able to obtain detailed data for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Distribution Automation (DA) networks. With rugged wireless solutions, the sensor data is readily available in real-time for IT decision makers. The unrestricted access to data from all network endpoints forces decision makers to shift their focus from Big Data to Smart Data – the data that matters most to the business. It also drives the need for real-time analytics in order to streamline operations. This not only simplifies the convergence issue, but it drives Smart Grid efficiency. There are many factors contributing to the efficiency of the Smart Grid. While some initially present themselves as challenges, increasing connectivity and digital transformation give decision makers better data, connect more field assets and enable more opportunities to benefit the business.
Precision Agriculture Benefits from Rise of Next-Gen OEM Technology
Precision agriculture has long been one of the leading industries for deploying cutting-edge OEM technology. Autonomous vehicles, sensor systems and data-driven analytics are all examples of technology that the precision ag industry embraced well ahead of widespread adoption. Today, precision agriculture is responsible for a sizable portion of our national economy, and the accompanying technology appears poised to push management practices even further into the realm of the Industrial IoT. This week, we’re highlighting two tech trends driven by the growth of next-gen OEM technology and looking at the effect those technologies are having on the industry as a whole. Agriculture Drones Perhaps one of the most immediately obvious areas of development is the commercial drone industry – specifically, as it applies to its application in precision agriculture. Research and Markets announced last week that it expects the agriculture drone market to reach $3.7 billion by 2024 – a scant seven years down the road. The report cites innovations in GPS mapping, OEM systems that incorporate advanced analytics, and an increase in the automation of the agriculture process as driving factors in the expected market boom. On a Commercial Drones FM podcast, Thomas Haun, VP of strategy and globalization for PrecisionHawk, discussed the accelerated convergence of commercial drone hardware and software. He looks at drones as having the unprecedented ability to redefine and change the foundational verticals due to the innovative applications that are being enabled by advanced hardware and software. Even though precision agriculture has never been shy about leading-edge technology, drones may just upend the industry even more than most analyst originally predicted. OEM and IoT via Satellite Northern Sky Research recently looked at how OEM is intersecting with IoT powered by GPS and satellite technology. The report notes that most new installs of M2M and IoT technologies will be powered by precision GPS: This is a more data-intensive type of data gathering for Agriculture applications, where data points such as machine performance, moisture levels, pesticide levels and other characteristics are all harvested and optimized on a higher resolution coordinate system in the field, essentially, a real ‘smart farm.’ The deployment of precision GPS technology is a notable departure from the traditional meter-reading applications that have driven agriculture technology in the past. These new ‘real smart farms’ will have the ability to collect that data run real-time decision making powered by data analytics. The report also highlights the expected boom in partnerships with agricultural equipment manufacturers, driven mostly by the growth in the “number of OEM installs in farming equipment such as forklifts, tractors and dozers …” The result looks something like a smart network with proprietary third-party applications responsible for delivering automated, data-informed decision making in real time. Intelligence at the Farm’s Edge If the two trends mentioned above come to fruition, the precision agriculture industry will see a successful transition from ‘big’ data to ‘smart’ data. If programmable OEM technology can be integrated into new and existing farm systems, the industry will see intelligence and analytics being deployed closer to the edge – the point of data collection – than ever before. Drones are becoming critical tools of for data collection and asset monitoring, and as GPS precision continues the improve, the farming industry is poised to reap the benefits of increased data-driven intelligence.
Drones and Emergency Response Teams – Friend or Foe?
The drone business has been flying high for the last few years, especially as they became popular consumer devices as regulatory and technological frameworks continue to take shape for greater implementation into the National Airspace (NAS). Much has also been written though about the possibilities of drones igniting the next wave of innovation for enterprise specific applications in precision agriculture, oil and gas, construction, asset monitoring and delivery, and mining. However, it’s clear that the military sector will continue to lead all other sectors in drone spending for the foreseeable future, thanks to worldwide demand of this technology. But perhaps the most intriguing applications for drones in the coming years are those related to safety – public safety, that is. State and local governments are certainly beginning to take their SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses of implementing drone technologies for their own emergency response efforts. Why just two weeks ago, local officials around Japan were looking at drones to help “beef up” their disaster response programs, in the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake. Even last week the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation collaborated with close to 50 state and local government agencies and researchers for a workshop about the use of drones in crisis situations. North Carolina is also looking at applications for drones for monitoring rockslides along Interstate 40 at the Tennessee border (a common headache for DOT officials). However, one of the critical discussion points during the workshop was looking at ways to ensure private owners of drones (with or without the best of intentions) don’t interfere with or further complicate emergency response efforts. Are Drones Friend or Foe? According to the FAA’s newest estimates, we can expect about 7 million drones to ship to the U.S. by 2020. Which also means, our skies are likely to become much more crowded with not just private consumer devices, but possibly many more commercial devices as well. This is where an early examination of the cost/benefit analysis of drones used in emergency response support may prove to be helpful. By several accounts already reported, numerous police departments, local and regional government agencies, fire departments, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and even lifeguards are already adopting and testing drone technologies in the event of an emergency response situation. By no means do we expect that trend to discontinue. However, it is also important to get a handle of what the negative outcomes could be so that technology companies like FreeWave can help address these issues now through technical guidance, tech innovation and considerations for implementation into the NAS. Based on what we’ve gathered so far, by far the biggest concerns for drones being used in emergency response is when it interferes with corresponding aviation efforts. There are numerous accounts of private drone pilots causing challenges for search and rescue and firefighting efforts. Just yesterday the Texas A&M Forest Service was reported to have asked its local residents to not fly drones near the wildfires they are trying to battle near college station. Drones were said to have caused a serious safety hazard for firefighters and halted the assistance of other firefighting aircraft. Another instance was in Sharp Park in Pacifica near San Francisco when search and rescue crews were delayed in their rescue mission when a drone flew much too close to the helicopter that was trying to save someone who had fallen off of a cliff. The point here is that while many of the newly born issues from drone flights are based on human oversight or error. It shines a light on just how new this new technology really is (for consumers and enterprises) and how much there still is to learn. We expect to see much more regulation get handed down in the coming years (on a local, state and federal level) to help curb errant drone usage in our increasingly crowded airspace. Furthermore, sense and avoid tactics between disparate aircraft will become even more paramount with each new drone flight. If you would like to learn more or want to add your own take to the drone discussion, please comment below!