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Application
Tracking goods with satellite
MobiApps has developed a satellite data communications transceiver
that goes beyond GSM and GPRS-based technology to track goods in transit. Vinutha
V reports
 The
monitoring of goods in transit is now benefiting from satellite-based technology.
MobiApps, a provider of terrestrial and satellite technologies for industrial
remote communications, recently developed a satellite-based technology that
manages and monitors goods in transit across the globe.
Cellular limitations
No doubt the adoption of GSM and GPRS-based products for tracking the movement
of goods by retail and commercial users is increasing, but such networks do
come with limitations. Terrestrial networks require association with several
local operators in each location. Complete coverage cannot be achieved through
terrestrial networks, especially in the middle of water or a desert. Additionally,
the speed at which raw materials are required is increasing. With this, the
accessing of information on a frequent basis in a localised environment is gaining
importance.
These factors led MobiApps to come out with a next-generation satellite data
communications transceiver designed to help OEMs track and manage goods in transit.
Behind this satellite technology has been the efforts of India, Singapore and
the US. The m100 solution developed by MobiApps rules out any dependency on
GSM or GPRS since it is based on satellite technology. “The m100 suits
the requirements of OEMs who are shipping goods on a national or international
level. This technology is appropriate for those who are looking at transporting
sophisticated, high-value or delicate products such as chips, pharmaceuticals,
electronic goods and fresh flowers,” says Sanjay Chakrabarty, chief executive
officer of MobiApps.
According to Chakrabarty, the satellite transmitter is about the size of a pack
of cards, and has low power consumption vis-à-vis other satellite transmitters.
In contrast to terrestrial networks, m100 can allow contact with a single network
provider with unlimited coverage at all times.
“It can completely eliminate the dependency on multiple
network operators and the challenges associated with roaming and quality,”
states Chakrabarty. The m100 can transfer data at low speeds of 9600 Baud (frequency)
from anywhere on earth. The limitation is that since the information has to
go up to the satellite and then down to the receiving site, there is a latency
which is higher than terrestrial cellular communications. This latency can be
up to a few minutes, depending on the satellite orbit, part of the world and
time of the day.
| The m100 transceiver provides worldwide satellite
data transmit or receive capabilities for customers needing satellite-based
tracking and industrial remote communications. The m100 operates over the
Orbcomm low-earth orbit satellite network, providing unlimited global coverage
with no blockage. It can significantly improve asset utilisation by allowing
clients to monitor, track and manage their fixed and mobile assets around
the world. The three-chip m100 OEM transceiver includes the Analog Devices
Blackfin DSP, MobiApps’ m1375 RF Module, and a GPS RF down converter,
creating a fully-integrated satellite-tracking device.
The m100 is compliant with SAEJ1455, which is a
certification for deployment in commercial vehicles. It is capable of
functioning between -40 degrees centigrade to +85 degrees centigrade,
which is the entire industrial temperature grade for harsh environmental
deployments. The m100 has a highly integrated GPS implementation, and
by way of this, a substantial part of the GPS functionality is deployed
in software without the requirement of having separate chipsets; this
therefore reduces the cost of a GPS implementation. Developers and system
integrators can leverage the m100’s low cost and high performance
to automate and enhance their customers’ operations. Applications
can be written in the C programming language with MobiApps’ complete
Applications Programming Interface (API). The m100’s API provides
control for satellite communications, GPS, power management, and digital,
analog or serial interfaces. Its processor memory architecture supports
over-the-air re-programming.
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LEO coverage
With the m100’s versatility, users can quickly implement
solutions that are optimised for their tracking and monitoring applications.
With the aid of the m100, customers can even monitor industrial grade temperature,
shock and vibration. It can offer global LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite coverage
without any blockage. The LEO satellites are placed at lower altitudes, and
they rotate much faster than the rotational speed of the earth. They are therefore
able to cover a larger geography. A typical LEO constellation of satellites
consists of a large number of satellites that rotate around the earth in different
planes of movement. The advantage is that they provide global coverage, but
since they are low-power and move fast, they have lower bandwidth and are not
capable of video broadcasting. LEO constellations are typically used for carrying
voice and data.
- Broad range of digital and analog I/O
- Two programmable serial interfaces
- Ample program and non-volatile memory
- Complete API in C programming language
- Popular Fusion-embedded RTOS
- Optional 12-channel tightly-integrated
GPS
- Optional CAN Bus interface
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Regulatory hurdle
About their plans for Indian customers Chakrabarty says, “Regulatory aspects
to set up satellite communication pose a major hurdle in India at present.”
Large OEMs in verticals such as vehicle management, commercial vehicle management
and commercial equipment management are the prospective customers for this satellite-based
technology. MobiApps is expecting quite a few customers for this technology,
including Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo and GE.
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