M2M : Machine 2 Machine

SynapSense offers complete energy efficiency and carbon footprint instrumentation solutions and platforms for the world’s leading enterprises. From the data center to the fab and throughout the enterprise, SynapSense provides a breakthrough wireless instrumentation architecture offering flexibility and sustainability. The company’s solutions can be found in numerous Fortune 500 companies from Wall Street to the Silicon Valley.

The SynapSense solution is comprised of a complete hardware and software solution set that enables a robust sensor net platform and extensive customer applications. The platform boasts a scalable and an extensible software environment for sensor network applications, including system software (operating systems and virtual machines), software synthesis and scaling tools, distributed middleware, and programming languages.

My search continues for products that provide a bundled standalone package of - sensor, power and communication in a stand alone / low maintenance environment. In an ideal deployment the sections on concern in any module are
* Sense - How do I measure the the operation that I am monitoring?
* Power - How do I power this so that it is reliable, long term and low maintenance
* Communicate - How do I communicate this information back.

This combination forms the front end of any M2M application - the piece of hardware/ software that is deployment in the field next to you asset/ process under that is being monitored. In one of my previous posts I pointed out enOcean that provides a packages all the above elements. Another Control Microsystems provides a similar bundle SOLARPack 410, an integrated, ultra low power flow computer for electronic flow measurement (EFM). The SOLARPack 410 features a compact, all-in-one design that integrates a powerful 32-bit flow computer, high accuracy temperature and pressure sensors, ultra low power solar battery system, and wireless Bluetooth communications for quick and easy retrieval of production and transmission data. Designed for use in remote locations where solar is the only power source and access by technicians is limited. The type on sensors on this box are very specific to the metering application but you get the point of a one box end point.
Vendors providing these endpoints will be a critical part of the M2M ecosystem. If these end points are unreliable then the whole value prop of M2M and smart services goes for a toss…

EnOcean a company that is developing battery less sensors. The net result is that EnOcean devices do not need batteries or an external power source, they can be deployed where they are needed, without the need to schedule retrieval for battery changing. trength is in the combination of two key technologies: Firstly the harvesting of energy from the environment and secondly the use of radical power management techniques that enable our devices to run on minuscule amounts of energy.

THe company has launched a complete package. The world’s “first wireless, battery-free…and affordable…sensor transmitter to integrate all sensor functions into a single module” has been unveiled in North America for OEMs developing products for commercial building monitoring and control, industrial processes, lighting control, automated metering infrastructures, and home automation.

Apprion provides the ION System (Intelligent Operations Network) to connect to industrial assets using wireless mesh networks. This M2M system provides the middle ware and the standards based integration suite to connect to your existing industrial assets. Apprion’s Intelligent Operations Network (ION) System is a comprehensive industrial wireless application networking system. The ION System provides an open, scalable, secure and extensible system for monitoring, managing, and securing multi-vendor wireless devices and applications. The company backs up the product with a Professional service offering that provides you a one stop shop for all you M2M deployment needs. Professional Services deliver security, reliability and flexibility to ensure that all infrastructure analysis, design, and implementation challenges will be addressed efficiently and properly.

Industrial Wireless Systems
• Oil & Gas
• Chemical
• Power Generation
• Biofuels
• Wireless Applications
• Condition Monitoring
• Video Surveillance
• Wireless I/O
• Workforce Mobility

SpinWave systems a provider of WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks) targeted specifically for Building Automation Systems. Spinwave’s wireless sensor mesh network easily integrates with virtually any Building Management System, HVAC Equipment Controllers, SCADA software, Visual Basic application or Industrial Control System (PLC, DCS) through pre-configured LON, BACnet, Modbus Network Interfaces or I/O “Mirror” Modules.
Spinwave’s unique system design and rapid deployment toolset allows seamless integration of wireless sensors to existing building automation systems from all major manufacturers. Our cost-efficient, ultra-reliable product family provides an economical means to increase building efficiency and occupancy comfort. Our products are perfect for retrofits, fast track projects and unique installations where a traditional wired solution is either too expensive or physically impossible.