Buildroot State for AM62x
At the start of each project, we evaluate with our customers what kind of platform they are going to need. If it’s a small device, maybe even battery powered, with little need for performance or bandwidth, we usually opt for the nRF52 series or nRF9160 microcontrollers, depending on the connectivity requirements. These already pack a lot of punch, but if we find that even more performance, a more complex software, or a fast Ethernet or LTE connection is required, we recommend using the grandcentrix Linux Gateway Blueprint.
Dimitri Mizenko
Modbus Cloud Connect – Feature Update
Our customers already know that we are continuously improving our product Modbus Cloud Connect. Unlike recent minor updates, the new FOTA release will be the first time a new feature is rolled out to all customers completely free of charge.
From now on, our MoCC gateway can not only send the data of other Modbus RTU participants to the cloud, but also receive internal data from the gateway in the customer’s cloud.
Stefan Dinkelbach
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect – AWS Integration
Modbus Cloud Connect offers the possibility to easily connect sensors and machines. It delivers the Modbus data via NB-IoT up to the customer application. There, the data can be stored and/or visualized depending on the application. Since there are countless different types of applications, Modbus Cloud Connect can be integrated very flexibly. In this article, we explain the connection to one of the hyperscalers: Amazon Web Service.
Simon Convent
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect – Instant Read & Instant Write via Narrowband-IoT
There are many solutions for remote monitoring. Many gateways can read and send measured values. Some can write parameters. But what can you do if parameters spontaneously need to be changed remotely or if a new measured value is required that is normally transmitted only once a week?
Daniel Schmitz
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect – Collection of consumption data via infrared interface
Capturing consumption data and providing energy data is a highly topical issue.With the amendment of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the increasing awareness of sustainability, a digitalization of submetering is required. This is made possible, for example, by the IR readout adapters from Device GmbH in conjunction with our IoT products. Submetering refers to the recording and proportional billing of the various consumption meters in buildings. Digital submetering enables remote reading and simple as well as permanent data transmission.Daniel Schmitz
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect – Remote Reading with DC Energy Meters
In this blog post, we show how energy consumption in a DC circuit can be measured and transmitted via Narrowband IoT using Modbus Cloud Connect. This enables remote reading of the meter reading or other values, such as recording peak loads, so that submetering can be easily implemented.
Viktor Deyemanns
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect - Remote reading with AC energy meters
In today’s world, the conscious use of energy is more in demand than ever. In the first step, this requires knowledge about the use of energy in order to be able to initiate appropriate energy-saving measures. The consumption of electrical energy can be read, for example, at the meter cabinets of the tapping points.Viktor Deyemanns
Hands-on Modbus Cloud Connect – Connecting to MQTT Broker
Example: Connecting to MQTT broker from HiveMQ Using the Internet of Things (IoT) is not only about connecting machines and sensors, but also about analyzing the data gained through the networking. Which and how much data is useful always depends on the use case.
In order to use and evaluate the data, it must be transferred to the corresponding IoT platform. There are various protocols for the connection, such as LwM2M, HTTP or MQTT.Daniel Schmitz
Hands-on Matter - The Matter Bridge (Part 4)
Current Smart Homes are full of bridges that are the central component to talk to your proprietary devices via more or less open wireless protocols (Zigbee, DuoFern, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.). So, should you just throw all your old systems away to make room for new matter devices? No, Matter has also a solution for this scenario and we will take a closer look at what a Matter Bridge is and how it will convert all your proprietary bridges into compatible matter devices.
Tim Conrad
Visualize consumption data of electronic electricity meters in the cloud in 3 steps
In this blog article, we describe how we enable remote monitoring of our in-house energy consumption by connecting electronic electricity meters with Modbus Cloud Connect. This enables us to analyze current energy consumption data at all times and, based on this, make decisions on measures to reduce energy consumption and thus cut costs. The blog article goes into detail about the individual technical components of the solution, from the installation of the hardware, to the provision of the data in an Azure cloud environment, to the visualization of this in Power BI.
Arne Maercker
Hands-on Matter - The Matter Light Switch (Part 3)
In Part 1 and Part 2 we took a look at the basic concepts and walked through the all-cluster app for an example matter device and turned a light on and off using our CLI. Now we will implement a matter light switch that will do this for us to complete our setup.Tim Conrad
Hands-on Matter - The Matter Light Bulb (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this blog series, we provided a theoretical overview by following Alice’s journey from unboxing a new Matter switch to commission the device into the Fabric and binding it to a Matter light bulb.
In the following parts, we will recreate Alice’s setup. In this part we will start with a Matter light bulb, we will guide you through the process of setting up a low-cost example to get real hands-on experience with Matter and evaluate it for yourself. We will use a ESP32 with a basic LED and a resistor to create our own light bulb as a proof of concept.Tim Conrad
Matter - The Overview (Part 1)
As the Matter Standard (formerly known as Project CHIP) by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) will probably be released in Fall 2022, we at grandcentrix, couldn’t resist to start playing with the protocol and the examples that are already available on GitHub.Tim Conrad
IoT projects step by step - Summary of the OMR Masterclass 2022
The expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) is steadily advancing. More and more companies are discovering the opportunities and potential of digitalization in their business model. But where to start with the digital transformation and when to start? On the occasion of the OMR Festival 2022 in Hamburg grandcentrix highlighted the necessary prerequisites and measures as well as their systematic implementation. The post-Covid reprise of the popular masterclass event focused on an important core question in holistic scope: What do you need to think about to implement IoT projects in your company?
Data-driven decision taking in IoT projects
As an end-to-end IoT provider, it is important to grandcentrix that IoT data is reliably collected and used in a way that adds value. Data-driven decisions can generate particular added value here. Our Data Scientists and Data Engineers support you in using data effectively. This article provides insight into how we achieve these goals in customer projects.
Laura Ohrndorf
Event-Retrospect - Vodafone Group introduced their IoT Centres of Competency
At the end of May 2022, Vodafone IoT hosted an IoT Analyst event. These events are used to give the analysts a view of where Vodafone IoT are heading and what is being offered. Normally the focus is Vodafone’s core IoT business and connectivity. In this instance though, Vodafone decided to do “an introduction to the Vodafone IoT Centres of Competency”. These Centres are businesses acquired or part- acquired by Vodafone, who maintain their independent status as companies and are specialists in certain parts of the IoT business.
Paul Haigh
Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) in Narrowband IoT (Part 2/2 - in Practice)
This part of the article discusses the specifics of Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) cellular service. In part 1 of this article, we addressed the systems involved and also the challenges of FOTA in NB-IoT in principle. In this part, we address what to consider in practice for FOTA and what support grandcentrix provides for FOTA in NB-IoT.
Christian Pereira
Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) via Narrowband IoT (Part 1/2 - Basics)
In the Internet of Things “IoT,” the ability to subsequently update software on IoT devices is mandatory. By doing so, it is possible to retroactively fix bugs, roll out new functionalities, and last but not least, for cybersecurity reasons. This two-part article discusses the specifics of Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) in the Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) mobile service.Christian Pereira
IIoT - The Internet of Things in industrial companies
Industrial IoT (IIoT) describes as a synonym for Industry 4.0 the digital transformation of processes along the value chain in industrial companies as well as the connectivity of the elements contained therein. To achieve this, traditional IT is interlinked with operational technology (OT) in production via the Internet of Things (IoT). The aim of digitization is to make individual production steps much more efficient in holistic processes. Focus topic: automation. For simple, fast and cost-effective device connectivity, grandcentrix has developed the “Swiss army knife” of IIoT applications - Modbus Cloud Connect for NB-IoT. Can we help you with the functionality of your digitalization strategy with IIoT?
IoT in the smart home - The connectivity in everyday life
IoT im Smart Home A technology in two worlds: Within Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been used to connect machines, systems, goods and people directly to each other for some time now. This enables the self-organization and automation of industrial processes, and production workflows are more efficient and less expensive. But it is also impossible to imagine the private environment without the Internet of Things. Home appliances, motion detectors, lighting - using IoT in the smart home allows you to conveniently use your security, heating or air conditioning technology as well as entertainment equipment. In the field of e-health, grandcentrix is involved in a pioneering solution. The focus is on the energy-efficient use of narrowband IoT - especially in patient monitoring.
Narrowband IoT - Reliable Technology for the Smart City?
In the digital age, urban living space is changing fundamentally and the course is being set in the Internet of Things to withstand continued growth. According to the World Population Clock of the German Foundation for World Population, the number of people living on Earth was around 7.9 billion in August 2021. In the course of urbanization, more and more people are congregating in the major metropolises and their suburbs. Numerous megacities have sprung up, and as the number of inhabitants grows, so do the challenges for urban planning. Environmental pollution, demographic change, scarcity of resources, crowds of people - living together in metropolitan areas required forward-looking development concepts. Narrowband IoT is taking an important role in this. Welcome to the Smart City.
LTE-M - Technology for mobile IoT projects
The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand. By the end of 2020, IoT Analytics counted around 11.7 billion IoT connections worldwide. By 2025, this figure is expected to exceed 30 billion, and analysts are forecasting a stronger influence of LPWA technologies on IoT devices as a result. In this regard, LTE-M is the leading LPWA technology for connectivity of industrial applications in the Internet of Things (IoT). The complementary service offers lower latency and higher throughput for IoT applications. In the application scenario factory site, this is a clear benefit.
Six Benefits of Narrowband-IoT
The benefits of narrowband IoT are reflected in multiple aspects. Briefly summarized: NB-IoT can be used to send and receive small amounts of data from IoT devices at a low cost point. This is done in a particularly energy-efficient manner, enabling long-lasting battery operation. NB-IoT also has good area coverage due to the frequencies used. In addition, Narrowband-IoT inspires with a good building penetration all the way down to the basement. The technology is available from many network operators, ensuring excellent international coverage. In the following, we explain the benefits of Narrowband-IoT in detail.Christian Pereira
Narrowband-IoT - The Gamechanger for Connecting Products
Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networks make connectivity affordable and easy for national and international applications. In this context, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE for Machines (LTE-M) in licensed cellular are interesting alternatives. These public services have significantly increased the deployment scope of IoT applications and devices. The following article focuses on Narrowband-IoT and explains its functionality and advantages.Christian Pereira
LPWAN - Wireless Networks with Low-Energy Consumption
The Internet of Things (IoT) brings countless functions and advantages when it comes to connecting devices and machines. This requires a corresponding infrastructure as a basis. One of the most commonly used technologies is LPWAN.
Narrowband IoT as a component for efficiency and innovation
The world of the Internet of Things, or IoT, requires a solid infrastructure as its foundation. One of the pillars supporting the Internet of Things is the Narrowband IoT standard. Find out what is behind this term here.
Partnership of Device Insight and grandcentrix
NB-IoT per Plug-and-Play - IoT pioneer Device Insight and Vodafone subsidiary grandcentrix are launching a technology partnership and want to help companies quickly implement IoT solutions with their holistic end-to-end approach. One focus is on Narrowband IoT.
Spelsberg and grandcentrix develop smart charging station
The market for light electric vehicles has experienced immense growth in recent years. E-bikes, e-scooters or similar vehicle have become an integral part of modern mobility in cities. Accordingly, the demand for charging stations, designed to allow e-bikes, as well as pedelecs and other LEVs, to be charged in all conceivable places without having to carry a charger with them, is also increasing.
Using MODBUS on Azure Sphere with Rust
At grandcentrix we were tasked with connecting standalone temperature and humidity sensors to the cloud to monitor those readings for different regions inside larger supermarkets. These regions include for example the vegetable department as well as the checkout area and the entrance area. The final installation is planned to have one Azure Sphere guardian device per site and multiple sensors connected to it. The sensors are not directly connected but communicate with the receiver – a central MODBUS enabled device.
Björn Quentin
Service-Meister - How grandcentrix brings Data Science, IoT and the handicraft together
For about a year now, grandcentrix and Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG have been working together on the implementation of the sub-project, called Speedboat, “Networking and AI for Powertools “ as part of the Service Master project.
Lena Cypris
Gute Apps durch klare Software Struktur - Android Clean Architecture in Kotlin
Der App-Markt zeichnet sich durch eine hohe Zahl an App-Dienstleistern aus – und geht einher mit einem entsprechend großen und unübersichtlichen Angebot. Sich in diesem Dschungel für einen Dienstleister zu entscheiden, kann dabei herausfordernd sein. Denn gerade in Bezug auf die Funktionalität der Apps kommen mehrere Anbieter in Frage. Doch neben der reinen Funktionalität sollte eine App zusätzlich gut wartbar, modifizierbar und flexibel erweiterbar sein – hier wird das Angebot bereits übersichtlicher.
Lukasz Kalnik
NB-IoT – Innovativ ins Internet der Dinge
Nach längerer Pause sind wir endlich wieder mit unserem Podcast-Format grandcentrix.fm am Start – ab sofort auf Soundcloud – und freuen uns darauf, mit Experten aus der Branche über spannende Themen rund um IoT zu sprechen. Den Auftakt bestreiten wir dabei mit einem ganz besonderen und innovativen Thema: Narrowband-IoT – die ganze Folge finden Sie in diesem Artikel.
Unterschiedlichste Produkte ins Internet der Dinge zu bringen, ist unsere Expertise – ob über Bluetooth, Wifi oder Mobilfunk.
Contact Tracing – Lösungen für den neuen Arbeitsalltag
Die Herausforderungen für die Zusammenarbeit in Zeiten von Covid-19 haben sich gewandelt. Von heute auf morgen ein ganzes Unternehmen ins Home-Office zu schicken, schien im März die größte Herausforderung des Büroalltags im Jahre 2020 zu sein. Dass eine halbwegs normale Rückkehr ins Büro auch gegen Ende des Jahres noch immer keine Option sein wird, war vor fünf Monaten vermutlich keinem wirklich bewusst.
Die Transformation hin zu einem neuen Büroalltag, bei welchem der Infektionsschutz an erster Stelle steht, stellt sich als eine besondere Herausforderung heraus.
How to support your users set up an IoT device
With IoT Onboarding it’s the same as with creating any other User Experience concept — it has to be understandable, easy to use and in the best case self explaining. But what sounds logical for every UX designer isn’t as easy as you think when you additionally have the requirement to connect a thing to the internet.
So the task is to create an IoT onboarding which enables every user an easy and quick set-up of an IoT-device.
Janine Richartz
Innovativ durch Forschung – Auszeichnung für grandcentrix
Der Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft hat die grandcentrix GmbH für ihre hervorragende Forschungsleistung mit dem Gütesiegel „Innovativ durch Forschung“ ausgezeichnet – mit besonderem Fokus auf den Bereich „Cellular Connectivity“.
Forschung ist ein wesentlicher Pfeiler des Unternehmenserfolgs und nie wurde in Deutschland mehr in Forschung und Entwicklung (FuE) investiert als in den vergangenen Jahren. Die FuE-Ausgaben der deutschen Wirtschaft sind im Jahr 2017 im Vergleich zum Vorjahr um rund 9,5 % auf 68,8 Milliarden Euro angestiegen, Staat und Wirtschaft haben 2017 zusammen 99,6 Milliarden Euro für Forschung und Entwicklung ausgegeben – dies entspricht rund 3,04 % des Bruttoinlandsprodukts (BIP).
Testing an Internet of Things Cloud Infrastructure
While developing IoT devices for a few years now for various projects, we faced one challenge in all of them: how do we test and debug our cloud while having no IoT device ready?
These IoT projects usually start with a kickoff, where we learn what the IoT device is supposed to do and how we want to integrate it, followed by designing an architecture including the IoT device and cloud and how they will communicate with each other.
Tim Stellfeldt
Back2Work goes IoT – Technische Details zum Contact Tracer
Wie unser Head of IT Sebastian Irle in unserem Artikel Back2Work goes IoT – Infektionsketten digital nachvollziehen aufgezeigt hat, haben wir uns mit den Möglichkeiten der Rückverfolgung von Infektionsketten befasst, um eine teilweise Rückkehr in die Büros zu ermöglichen. Da wir keine klassische Zeit- und Anwesenheitsregistrierung verwenden, wollten wir eine einfach zu bedienende Lösung – abseits eines Zeiterfassungssystems. Als Ergänzung zeigt Sebastian Irle in diesem Artikel nun die technischen Details auf, die hinter unserer Erweiterung der Back2Work-App stecken.
Back2Work goes IoT – Infektionsketten digital nachvollziehen
Um auf eine mögliche, teilweise Rückkehr in die Büros vorbereitet zu sein, haben wir uns mit den Möglichkeiten einer Nachverfolgung eventueller Infektionsketten beschäftigt. Da wir bei grandcentrix keine klassische Zeit- und Anwesenheitserfassung einsetzen, war es wichtig eine Lösung zu finden, die eine einfache Benutzung ermöglicht und sich von einer Arbeitszeiterfassung klar abgrenzt.
Wie man mit NB-IoT Firmware Updates realisiert
NarrowBand-IoT, kurz NB-IoT, verspricht deutliche Vorteile bei der Vernetzung von Geräten (Internet of Things, IoT). Hierfür bringt es wesentlichen Merkmale mit, die herkömmliche Funklösungen nicht bieten: Insbesondere eine global harmonisierte Netzabdeckung, eine verlässliche Qualität durch Nutzung des lizenzierten Frequenzbereichs, einen geringen Energieverbrauch, eine gute Gebäudedurchdringung für den Inhouse-Einsatz und nicht zuletzt überschaubare Kosten für die Übertragung von Datentelegrammen.
Mit Over-the-Air (OTA) Firmware-Updates tun sich Schmalbandtechnologien jedoch schwer. Wie es trotzdem funktioniert, lesen Sie hier:
On developing the Leica FOTOS companion app
Four weeks ago at Photokina in 2018, Leica Camera AG announced what turned out to be a game changer in the industry: Leica FOTOS app, a companion app for Android and iOS smartphones that works with almost every connected Leica camera on the market.
Now, with the app being available to the public, we’re happy to give an insight into the journey from the idea of having one Leica app to the first public version of the product.
Timo Josten
