Extending the Internet of Things beyond the smart home - LPWAN device development solutions for industrial and commercial applications

With the release of the developer version of Amazon Sidewalk , low-power wide area network ( LPWAN ) solutions are extending IoT connectivity beyond the home. Some LPWAN protocols, such as Wi-SUN , are open source and standards-based, while others, such as Amazon Sidewalk , are proprietary. Each method has its own unique advantages that web users can take advantage of depending on their needs. Welcome to click the Read the original text button at the end of the article or read the complete blog post through the link: https://cn.silabs.com/blog/expanding-beyond-the-smart-home-amazon-sidewalk-devices

Use Xinke Technology's Sub-GHz solution to expand the Internet of Things to areas beyond the smart home

Facing the development needs of LPWAN solutions such as Amazon Sidewalk and Wi-SUN , Silicon Labs (also known as "Silicon Technology") provides highly integrated one-stop Sub-GHz wireless development solutions, which can provide IoT device manufacturers with more comprehensive solutions. Complete LPWAN application and design support. Amazon Sidewalk is designed to leverage smart home infrastructure to provide tremendous flexibility beyond the home, helping to simplify the development process, reduce costs, and accelerate the benefits of related IoT devices. Learn more about Silicon Labs certified solutions, including Amazon Sidewalk SDK , wireless hardware, security, and development kits and tools: https://cn.silabs.com/ecosystems/extend-iot-device-range-with -amazon-sidewalk

Wi-SUN and Amazon Sidewalk

With Wi-SUN , users can easily extend network range and quickly scale up to accommodate more device types with the support of mesh topology. However, deploying Wi-SUN networks requires significant investments in border routers, cloud services, and device management. Amazon Sidewalk takes a different approach. Its network backbone uses native Amazon Web Services (AWS) connections and equipment already running on-site. However, this solution lacks the mesh network scalability that other technologies offer.

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that uses devices like Amazon Echo and Ring security cameras to build shared network infrastructure, allowing the network to extend beyond the front door. When enabled, Amazon Sidewalk unlocks unique benefits for an individual device and supports other Amazon Sidewalk -enabled devices within the broader community (for example, helping to locate pets or lost items).

Amazon Sidewalk employs a novel sub-GHz solution to extend range by facilitating a distributed network similar to cellular networks. The primary goal of Amazon Sidewalk is to create a large-scale roaming connectivity network that can accommodate many low-bandwidth devices.

By forming a seamlessly interconnected ecosystem, communication is possible even in the absence of traditional Wi-Fi networks.

With Amazon Sidewalk , smart devices can communicate via wireless protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy and the 900MHz/sub-1 GHz bands. These agreements use up to 500MB of internet traffic per month. That said, this solution brings clear benefits to security cameras, smart door locks, pet trackers, outdoor lighting, and other smart home applications, but there are other applications that can take advantage of this unique connected solution outdoors. Here we discuss agriculture, water management, forest fire management, and campus management.

Achieve interconnection of crop monitoring in the agricultural field

Plant growth can be monitored as a function of soil fertility, water, nutrient content, sunlight and air quality. Amazon Sidewalk provides interconnectivity for sensors without additional infrastructure or overhead. Native AWS connectivity in the application layer provides a simple path to transfer data from sensors to the cloud for better remote and real-time monitoring. For example, farmers can monitor crop growth with accurate information related to size and maturity time. Armed with this information, farmers can plan which crops to sell and which crops to store. Sensors can also be used to optimize fertilizer and pesticide applications, determine irrigation requirements based on soil composition, and detect environmental parameters that could harm precious or unique crops.

Optimizing water management with sensors

Across industries, optimal water management can reduce waste and enable fairer distribution. For example, using sensors makes it easier to measure and replenish the amount of water in a water storage tank. Additionally, the information sent by the sensors can trigger specific actions. For example, there are sensors that can perform thermodynamic calculations to determine the exact amount of water needed for cooling, which can be used to more efficiently deliver water to the right location. Due to Amazon Sidewalk's broad network coverage, these sensors can be deployed without the assistance of homeowners or provision of a network.

The sensor-driven solution revolutionizes distribution and protection across industries, leveraging the benefits of the Amazon Sidewalk network for widespread implementation.

Forest fire management detection technology

Amazon Sidewalk devices strategically placed in forested areas can detect temperature changes and alert the nearest fire department before a fire gets out of control. Used in conjunction with smoke detectors to be able to differentiate between weather-induced heat and actual fires. Smoke detectors and temperature monitoring devices connect to the Amazon Sidewalk network and communicate with fire stations via remote protocols such as frequency shift keying (FSK) and provide real-time alerts.

Campus management real-time feedback

There are many ways college campuses can become more interactive and dynamic with Amazon Sidewalk . For example, a university could collect feedback about the campus environment (e.g., cleanliness, convenience) and automatically alert maintenance staff to these issues. Amazon Sidewalk can even automatically notify students and staff of power outages and other unexpected safety hazards so they can avoid them entirely. As maintenance teams shrink and maintenance areas expand, sensors will indicate which issues require attention and prevent workers from relying on regular patrols. Some campuses may choose to install status buttons in places like bathrooms so students can alert maintenance staff to cleaning issues. Presence buttons can connect to Amazon Sidewalk rather than relying on the university IT network, minimizing setup and logins.

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