WaveCom launches new Module for explosive industrial environments
For applications designed to operate in potentially explosive industrial environments, Wavecom has developed the WMP120 Wireless Microprocessor, said to be the world’s first ATEX-approved GSM/GPRS solution for wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.
ATEX (ATmosphere EXplosive) is the European Directive for certifying products for use in environments where there may be a risk of explosions from exposure to volatile chemicals, liquids or gases. The WMP120 is certified for ATEX equipment category 1 and 3, which allows its use in zone 0, 1 and 2.
The same GSM/GPRS platform can be used for both gas meters and metering gateways, with a common software architecture. On the meter, a WMP120 can simply be added to an existing sensor part and used as a GSM/GPRS datalogger. On the gateway, a 100% software and hardware compatible WMP100 can manage network technologies such as ZigBee, proprietary RF or PLC in addition to the GSM/GPRS communication.
The WMP120 can operate as a smart modem, as a shared processor with a host CPU, or as a standalone CPU natively executing the customer’s application. It supports three programming models: host AT commands, standard C executable and Lua scripting. It also supports the Open AT realtime operating system and the full range of Open AT plug-ins including Internet, security and GPS in addition to the IDS (intelligent device services) scalable platform for securely delivering upgrades and diagnostics over-the-air.