(BLOG) — In this, the first post in a multi-part series, Bill Zujewski specifically explores the challenges of dealing with wireless technology as part of machine-to-machine (M2M) initiative. The series will offer insights to help designers and developers prepare for and overcome the unique challenges involved with implementation. Today’s first post focuses on reliability.
For obvious reasons, wireless technology will play a key role in the future of M2M. And right now, the stage is being set. Technological advances in edge devices and cellular networks have made it easier and less expensive for mobile assets to be connected, removing two significant barriers to adoption.
Fact is, machines communicating via cellular, satellite, or wireless connections will be just as big of a part, if not bigger, of the Internet of Things (IoT) as machines with wired connections. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows: the unfortunate reality is that wireless communications aren’t always as dependable as wired internet connections.
That said, there are a number of steps connected product manufacturers can take early in the M2M development and implementation processes that will help ensure the level of connectivity M2M initiatives require.
- Design an architecture that assumes and accounts for intermittent connectivity by building in intelligence that queues up data when offline to be sent out once connectivity returns.
- Build in connectivity redundancies, so that if one kind of connectivity fails, another will take over. For example – if a moving asset loses its cellular signal, the machine can automatically switch to satellite communications. This strategy is essential for mobile assets that require continual connectivity.
- Test your assets’ connectivity. Connect the asset, take it to a specific location, and see what the connection quality is. In the end, nothing beats real-world testing.
Even though nothing is more dependable than a wired connection, wireless M2M is opening new doors for the industry – from the shipping and fleet industries to a wide range of consumer products. Wireless connectivity is a critical part of the industry’s future – it just takes a bit more thinking and planning to make it work right.
Wireless M2M is opening new doors for multiple industries – and there are a number of steps connected product manufacturers should take early on in the M2M development and implementation process that will help ensure the level of reliable connectivity M2M initiatives require.
The author is Bill Zujewski, CMO and executive vice president
of Product Strategy at Axeda Corporation.
