Technology – Positioning Universal

Decoding the Future: Natural Language Processing’s Role in Advancing IoT Applications

Geoff Weathersby — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:06:57 +0000

Introduction to Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) has emerged as a revolutionary field in the intersection of computer science, artificial intelligence, and linguistics. It focuses on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that is both meaningful and contextually relevant. NLP has paved the way for significant advancements in various industries, including healthcare, finance, and customer service. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve deep into the world of NLP, exploring its history, inner workings, applications, challenges, and future prospects.

History of Natural Language Processing

The roots of NLP can be traced back to the 1950s, when researchers began exploring the possibilities of machine translation. The advent of computers and the increasing availability of textual data sparked interest in developing algorithms that could process and analyze human language. The early years of NLP were marked by rule-based approaches, where linguists manually crafted intricate sets of rules to translate and analyze text. However, these approaches proved to be limited in their ability to handle the complexity and ambiguity of natural language.

The field witnessed a significant breakthrough in the 1980s with the introduction of statistical methods in NLP. This approach involved training models on large amounts of annotated data to learn patterns and make predictions. The rise of machine learning algorithms, such as Hidden Markov Models and Neural Networks, further propelled the progress in NLP. With the advent of deep learning and the availability of massive datasets, NLP has witnessed unprecedented growth, enabling machines to comprehend and generate human language with astonishing accuracy.

How Does Natural Language Processing work?

Natural Language Processing involves a series of intricate steps to process, analyze, and understand human language. The first step is known as tokenization, where the text is broken down into individual words or tokens. These tokens serve as the building blocks for subsequent processing steps. The next step involves part-of-speech tagging, where each word is assigned a grammatical category, such as noun, verb, or adjective. This information helps in understanding the syntactic structure of the text.

Once the text is tokenized and tagged, the next step is to analyze the relationships between words. This is done through syntactic parsing, which involves creating a parse tree that represents the grammatical structure of the sentence. Sentiment analysis is another important aspect of NLP, where the underlying sentiment or emotion expressed in the text is determined. This can be crucial for applications such as social media monitoring or customer feedback analysis.

Applications of Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing has found a wide range of applications across various domains. In the healthcare industry, NLP is used to extract important information from medical records, enabling faster and more accurate diagnosis. Sentiment analysis is employed in customer service to gauge customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. NLP algorithms are also used in automated translation services, making it easier for people to communicate across different languages and by chatbots to provide personalized assistance and support in various industries, including e-commerce and banking. In the legal domain, NLP is used for e-discovery, where large volumes of legal documents are analyzed to extract relevant information for legal professionals.

Natural Language Processing in the Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT has ushered in a new era of interconnected devices that communicate and share data with each other. NLP plays a vital role in extending this data exchange beyond device-to-device communications to deliver valuable insights to the users of these devices. Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant utilize NLP algorithms to understand and respond to user commands. By leveraging NLP, IoT devices can interpret and act upon natural language instructions, making them more intuitive and user-friendly.

Voice assistants will also provide a convenient means for drivers to interact with dashcams integrated into fleet telematics solutions with neural network capabilities. Refer to our blog, “Navigating the Neural Network Wave: Unveiling New IoT Capabilities with Neural Networks and Devices” for additional details. As drivers make use of this feature, the dashcam utilizes speech recognition technology to convert spoken language into text. Subsequently, NLP algorithms are activated, carefully analyzing the transcribed text to understand and interpret the driver’s instructions or queries. This seamless fusion of voice commands and NLP elevates the driving experience, allowing for intuitive and hands-free control of dashcam functionalities.

In industrial IoT, NLP plays a crucial role in predictive maintenance. By analyzing maintenance logs, manuals, and textual data from sensors, NLP algorithms can identify patterns indicative of potential equipment failures, enabling key personnel to take more proactive maintenance measures to minimize downtime and enhance operational efficiency.

NLP also enhances the functionality of AI-enabled dashcams used in vehicle telematics solutions by accessing and analyzing dashcam footage. As an example, by analyzing the audio information in the dashcam recordings, NLP can identify and extract information related to specific incidents, such as accidents or road events. This facilitates automated incident reporting and documentation.

Challenges in Natural Language Processing

Despite the remarkable progress in NLP, several challenges persist. One major challenge is the ambiguity and complexity of natural language. Words can have multiple meanings, and context is crucial in understanding their intentions. Another challenge is the lack of labeled training data for specialized domains. NLP models often require large amounts of annotated data to achieve high accuracy, which may not be readily available for niche domains. Additionally, ethical considerations regarding privacy and bias in NLP algorithms need to be addressed to ensure fair and responsible use of the technology.

The Future of Natural Language Processing

The future of Natural Language Processing holds immense potential. As research in the field continues to advance, we can expect even greater accuracy and sophistication in language understanding and generation. NLP algorithms will become more adaptable to different domains and languages, enabling machines to understand and communicate with humans in a more natural and human-like manner. As a result, NLP will play a pivotal role in transforming industries such as healthcare, education, and customer service, making our interactions with machines more seamless and intuitive.

Conclusion

Natural Language Processing has revolutionized the way machines interact with human language, opening up a world of possibilities across various industries and domains. From its humble beginnings in machine translation to the current advancements in deep learning, NLP has come a long way. As we continue to unravel the complexities of human language, the power of NLP will continue to grow, enabling machines to understand, interpret, and generate language in ways that were once unimaginable. Embracing the potential of NLP will pave the way for a future where human-machine interactions are seamless, intuitive, and truly transformative.

About Positioning Universal

Established in 2013, Positioning Universal is a leading global provider of off-the-shelf customizable IoT devices, GPS vehicle and asset monitoring solutions, and Systems Integration services. With a deep understanding of IoT technologies, Positioning Universal guides companies in designing and deploying the most suitable IoT solutions for their needs. Our solutions and on-going support empower businesses with the invaluable business intelligence needed to maintain a competitive edge in rapidly evolving markets.

Positioning Universal Viewpoint

The next generation of telematics solutions, featuring neural network components and NLP, is set to transform user-device interaction. Drawing inspiration from the familiarity and ease of communication with voice assistants, users will be able to effortlessly manage and access telematics functionalities, from querying real-time vehicle data to issuing commands for navigation or safety features. Telematics providers will be able to provide over-the-air (OTA) updates for these devices, mirroring the approach employed by Tesla to introduce new capabilities to their vehicles. The possibilities are endless and will mark a significant advancement in making the interaction between users and their IoT devices more fluid, efficient, and responsive to individual preferences.

We continuously monitor and incorporate into our product roadmaps relevant technological advancements, including emerging developments in neural networks and NLP, in our constant quest to improve the quality of the telematics solutions we provide to our resellers and customers.

Tips for Selecting the Right IoT Devices

Geoff Weathersby — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 20:37:08 +0000

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is a vast and dynamic landscape that encompasses a diverse array of components, spanning hardware, software, connectivity, and services. At its core, the hardware aspect of IoT involves a myriad of devices such as sensors, smart devices (i.e., home speakers), and vehicle/asset trackers. These devices facilitate the collection and transmission of data, forming the foundation of the entire ecosystem. On the software and platforms front, a multitude of solutions exist to manage, analyze, and interpret the massive influx of data generated by IoT devices. Connectivity plays a crucial role, with various protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Cellular, and Satellite networks enabling seamless communication between devices. Additionally, services like Data Analytics, IoT Security, App Development, and Systems Integration contribute to the overall functionality and value proposition of the IoT ecosystem, offering a comprehensive and interconnected framework that extends across industries and applications.

This vast IoT ecosystem can be illustrated by the 2021 IoT Startup Landscape developed by IoT Analytics. This landscape graphic includes over 1,000 startup companies offering solutions across software, hardware, connectivity, and services.

Table 1

IoT Analytics : 2021 IoT Startup Landscape

Source: IoT Analytics

While it’s tempting to explore all facets of the IoT ecosystem, this blog focuses on how to select the right IoT (or GPS) devices as the foundation for the success of any IoT project.

Background

Global GPS Tracker Market

According to 360 Research Reports, the global GPS Tracker market is forecast to increase from $1.5 billion in 2022 to $2.9 billion by 2028. The global top five GPS tracker manufacturers are Jimi IoT, CalAmp, Queclink, Teltonika, and Meitrack. These manufacturers account for 55% of the market. China is the leading global producer of GPS trackers with 65% market share.

Table 2 provides a list from 360 Research Reports of the leading GPS manufacturers which are grouped by headquarters location:

Table 2

Leading Global GPS Device Manufacturers

U.S.

China

Other

● CalAmp

● Sierra Wireless

● Positioning Universal

● Danlaw

● Jimi IoT

● Queclink

● Suntech

● Thinkrace Technology

● Eelink

● TOPFLYTech

● Coban

● Teltonika

● Sensata (Xirgo¹)

● ARKNAV

● Ruptela

● Navtelecom

¹ Xirgo, based in the U.S., was acquired by U.K.-based Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST) in February 2021

Aftermarket Vehicle Telematics Market

One of the key segments within the Global GPS Tracker market is Aftermarket Vehicle Telematics. Berg Insight estimates that global sales of aftermarket telematics devices surpassed 47.2 million in 2022, generating a market value of € 2.4 billion. Their forecast indicates that annual shipments of aftermarket telematics devices will reach 77.6 million in 2027, generating a market value of € 8.4 billion.

The leading aftermarket vehicle telematics companies identified by Berg Insight in their recent report are listed in Table 3 below:

Table 3

Leading Global Aftermarket Vehicle Telematics Providers

North America

Asia Pacific

Europe/Other

● CalAmp

● Positioning Universal

● Danlaw

● Jimi IoT

● Queclink

● Suntech

● Gosuncn RichLink

● Neoway Technology

● Gosafe

● Kingwo

● ATrack

● iTriangle

● Teltonika

● Sensata

● ERM Advanced Telematics

● Meta System

● Ruptela

● Munic

IoT Device Selection: Key Decision Factors

The diversity of IoT devices options, as evidenced by the Startup Landscape in Table 1, makes the decision-making process for the selection of devices crucial for achieving project objectives and return on investment (ROI) targets. Whether designing a smart city infrastructure, optimizing industrial processes, or streamlining supply chain logistics, IoT device selection requires thorough evaluation of the following factors:

Table 4

Key Decision Factors

Key Decision Factors	Description
Intended Purpose / Use Case	● Type of asset: vehicle, trailer, industrial equipment, portable light towers, etc. ● Type of device: hard-wired, battery-powered, solar-powered, etc. ● Duration: weeks vs. months vs. years ● Data use/storage period: tracking frequency, vendors data retention policy, etc. ● Operating Environment: indoors, outdoors, temperature extremes, water/dirt exposure, remote locations, etc.
Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom	● Device fit with intended use case / requirements ● Potential trade-offs between costs/availability vs. fit
Device Design & Specifications	● Form Factor: size based on asset type and installation requirements ● Enclosure: IP rating, ruggedized ● Processor/Processing Power: real-time tracking, near real-time, periodic ● Memory: RAM for on-device data storage and over-the-air software updates ● Battery: type, capacity/lifespan, rechargeable/replaceable vs. one-time use ● IMU: 3-axis, 6-axis, or 9-axis accelerometers
Connectivity	● LAN, PAN, WAN, LPWAN, Satellite ● Built-in or add-on connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
Security	● Device: source-code analysis to detect security defects, encryption, privileged access, etc.
Power	● Power consumption requirements based on tracking frequency, add-on sensors, etc. ● Powered vs. Non-Powered Assets
Firmware	● Over-the-Air (OTA) updates: availability and frequency of updates ● Security: device authentication, encryption
Costs	● Pricing model: up-front hardware + monthly/annual recurring fees; monthly/annual recurring fees with no up-front costs, etc. ● Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): TCO includes the hardware costs plus the cost of recurring fees including connectivity, platform & storage fees, map fees, etc.

Note: the Key Decision Factors in Table 1 focus on device-specific criteria and, as a result, exclude a Vendor Evaluation.

Tips

Since IoT devices form the cornerstone of a successful IoT deployment, ensuring the accurate selection of the right device is crucial. While there is a comprehensive list of key decision factors outlined in Table 4, this blog provides an in-depth view of three of these decision factors: Off-the Shelf vs. Custom, Battery Performance within the Device Design & Specification, and Connectivity.

Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom

In addition to evaluating capabilities of the device components, such as processing power and memory, it’s also imperative to determine up front whether to purchase an off-the-shelf device or build a custom version. While there is less risk in using an already available and tested device, there may be unique requirements that can only be satisfied by building a custom solution. Key questions to ask to evaluate the off-the-shelf vs. custom option include:

● What is the prospective vendor’s track record for building custom solutions?

● Does the vendor have an Agile Manufacturing philosophy which includes the use of flexible manufacturing lines?

● What are the vendor’s lead times ranges for building custom solutions?

● What are the one-time development costs?

Refer to our blog, “Unlocking the Power of Mass Customization: Discover Personalized Solutions with Positioning Universal,” for additional information.

Device Design & Specifications: Battery Performance

Many GPS devices are now battery-powered or rely on backup batteries for power so the device can continue to operate in the event it becomes disconnected from a constant power source. While IoT device vendors provide guidance on the expected battery life of their devices, this guidance should be provided by vendors as a range given variability in tracking frequency/usage and operating environments. As an example, extreme temperatures variations will cause batteries to lose capacity more quickly, while high humidity may impact the performance of electronic components within devices.

Battery degradation can lead to infrequent tracking if the battery reaches critical low battery thresholds and, in the worst case scenario, batteries in devices may die or require recharging/replacement well before the vendor’s battery life guidance.

Any gaps between advertised and actual battery life will drive higher deployment costs such as the cost of personnel to replace or recharge the batteries or to prematurely replace the IoT device if designed for one-time use. This gap becomes particularly acute for applications where long-term, unattended operation is crucial.

One crucial aspect to consider while evaluating battery and overall performance of IoT devices is to understand the lab and field testing completed by IoT device vendors. Key questions to ask include:

● What was the scope of the Lab and Field testing? Temperature Extremes? Humidity?

● How long were the devices tested before their commercial launch?

● How long have the devices been commercially available?

● What was the geographic footprint for the field testing to ensure devices were tested in places with limited cellular coverage and extreme temperatures variances?

Battery performance is particularly important for successful long-term IoT deployments using battery-powered devices. Variability in tracking frequency and environmental conditions impact battery life, potentially leading to accelerated battery degradation. Rigorous lab and field testing is essential for understanding a device’s resilience and ensuring accurate battery lifespan expectations while mitigating costs to replace or recharge batteries or to replace one-time use devices with depleted batteries.

Connectivity

As the IoT landscape continues to rapidly evolve, an array of connectivity options has emerged, each catering to specific use cases and requirements. Table 5 provides an overview of these options which include Local Area Network (LAN), Personal Area Network (PAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), and Satellite. It should be noted that the LTE options within WAN in the chart below now include 4G and 5G.

Table 5

Connectivity Options

Source: Allion

The emergence of satellite connectivity is opening exciting new possibilities for global coverage, remote applications, and less expensive connectivity. These emerging technologies include new GPS III satellite technology being deployed in the Middle Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation and the rapid increase in the number of IoT connectivity services being offered in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation. Refer to our blog, “How Satellite Constellations Are Shaping Our World,” for additional information.

While selecting the right IoT devices, another key factor is understanding the available connectivity options offered by potential vendors. This is especially vital because connectivity costs often constitute a substantial portion of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), especially for devices with multi-year deployment requirements. Key questions to ask include:

· What connectivity options are offered by prospective vendors?

· What emerging connectivity options, such as satellite-based options, are currently offered or are being considered by prospective vendors which may lower the TCO?

IoT Connectivity costs are often the most material cost of an IoT program especially for use cases which require real-time or near real-time tracking & monitoring, use of dashcam videos, and/or require multi-year monitoring requirements. For these use cases, it’s important to determine if prospective vendors offer multiple connectivity and different data usage tier options.

Conclusion

Navigating the challenge of selecting the right IoT device requires a thorough consideration of the key decision factors outlined in this blog. Whether determining whether to buy an off-the-shelf device or build a customized IoT solution, understanding battery performance considerations, or determining the best connectivity option, these tips offer a guide for choosing the device(s) best suited to ensuring successful IoT deployments. Refer to our blog “Overcoming IoT Implementation Challenges: Tips for a Successful Deployment” for additional information.

Positioning Universal Viewpoint

Established in 2013, Positioning Universal is the leading global provider of customizable IoT hardware devices and GPS vehicle and asset monitoring solutions.

With a deep understanding of IoT technologies, Positioning Universal guides companies in selecting the most suitable IoT devices for their needs. By leveraging our expertise, companies can optimize device performance, ensure data accuracy, and enhance the performance of their IoT solutions. This empowers businesses with the invaluable business intelligence needed to maintain a competitive edge in rapidly evolving markets.

Overcoming IoT Implementation Challenges: Tips for a Successful Deployment

Jennifer Curley — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:03:14 +0000

Introduction

Kevin Ashton, MIT’s Executive Director of Auto-ID Labs, officially coined the term “Internet of Things” (IoT) in 1999. However, the roots of IoT applications trace back to the early 1980s. An early example involved programmers at Carnegie Mellon connecting a Coca-Cola machine to the Internet for remote inventory checks before purchasing drinks in 1982.

Other noteworthy examples of early IoT applications or precursor technologies include:

● Omnitracs sold the first 5,000 units of its satellite-based asset tracking system to Schneider National in 1989.

● John Romkey and Simon Hackett created an Internet toaster by connecting a Sunbeam Deluxe Automatic Radiant Control Toaster to the Internet in 1990.

● Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), a branch of the DoD, implemented RFID technology to improve the visibility and efficiency of its supply chain in the mid-1990s.

● LG introduced the first smart refrigerator, Internet Digital DIOS, in June 2000.

Background

These pioneering initiatives laid the foundation for the rapid proliferation of IoT devices which reached over 13 billion in 2022. Ericsson’s IoT Connections Outlook Report anticipates a continued surge in connected devices, projecting the number of IoT connections to exceed 34 billion by 2028. This growth in IoT adoption has fundamentally reshaped our interaction with the digital world, influencing everything from using smart speakers in households to AI-powered dashcams in vehicles.

As the landscape of IoT continues its rapid evolution, it becomes crucial to understand the challenges that companies encounter in implementing IoT technologies.

IoT Implementation Challenges

Implementing IoT poses many challenges like addressing issues related to data security and privacy, ensuring scalability and effective data management, and managing device reliability. These challenges are compounded by numerous factors, such as operating environments, organizational resource and skill gaps, and the need for thoughtful systems integration when deploying IoT solutions.

Examples of key IoT Implementation Challenges include:

1) Data Security and Privacy: IoT devices are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. Ensuring that your IoT provider has the technology and processes in place to provide the security and privacy of data transmitted and stored is crucial. Refer to our “Navigating the Data Privacy Landscape” blog for a more detailed discussion of data security and privacy.

2) Scalability & Data Management: As IoT deployments grow, managing vast amounts of data will be challenging without robust data analytics capabilities. Refer to our “IoT Data Analytics: Transforming Bytes into Insights” blog for a more detailed discussion of how data analytics enables organizations to extract valuable insights from the voluminous data set generated by connected devices.

3) Device Management & Reliability: Managing and updating IoT devices via Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates over their lifecycle is critical to provide enhanced functionality and reliability. OTA updates enable IoT providers to add new features, fix bugs, and update security.

4) Operating Environments: IoT devices are deployed in a wide range of operating environments ranging from trackers installed in vehicles to devices monitoring equipment or assets in remote outdoor areas. Devices that experience extreme conditions face heightened risks of wear and tear. Factors like temperature extremes, humidity, and exposure to corrosive substances will significantly impact the reliability and performance of IoT devices over time.

5) Resource & Skill Gaps: A shortage of skilled personnel for IoT implementation and management can be a challenge. For instance, a 2022 Construction Equipment survey conducted revealed that many construction firms utilizing telematics are not fully capturing their benefits. 58% of respondents reported having either no dedicated resource (40%) or only a part-time individual (18%) responsible for managing their telematics data.

6) Systems Integration (SI): Integrating IoT with existing legacy systems can be complex and may require significant updates. If these capabilities are not available internally, companies may need to partner with SI firms that specialize in integrating different hardware, software, systems, and processes. Their knowledge can help companies avoid common pitfalls and ensure successful project execution.

7) Return on Investment (ROI): The initial capital investment and/or ongoing operating expenses of IoT implementations can be a material expense, increasing the imperative on delivering successful IoT deployments. As an example of the ROI possibilities, a leading telematics provider reported that 55% of fleets using an asset tracking solution reported a positive ROI in less than a year.

Tips for a Successful Deployment

Implementing IoT solutions can drive step-change improvements for businesses, offering real-time data, automation, theft prevention & recovery, and improved decision-making capabilities. However, successful IoT deployments require careful planning and execution, and they come with their own set of challenges. Navigating these challenges and optimizing the benefits of IoT can be achieved by following four essential tips for successful IoT deployment:

1) Start with a Clear Strategy: Begin by defining your goals & objectives, the problems you aim to solve, and the expected outcomes given that a well-defined strategy will guide the entire deployment process. As part of this goal-setting process, it’s crucial to have active engagement with key internal stakeholders to understand their workflows and to secure buy-in for performance improvement goals & key metrics. Refer to Table 1 below for sample key metrics for a field services company:

Table 1

Field Services Company Example

Key Metrics by Department

Key Metrics (examples)	Fleet Mgt.	Operations & Maintenance	Customer Service
Fuel efficiency improvement through optimized route planning and monitoring	√
Fuel efficiency improvement through reduced idling	√
Average response time from the initiation of service request to arrival at customer’s home	√
Average duration of service appointments at customer locations	√
Vehicle utilization rates: % of time vehicles are in use		√
Reduction in maintenance costs through predictive maintenance		√
Reduction in vehicle downtime through predictive maintenance		√
Customer satisfaction ratings for in-home service experiences			√
# of customer complaints related to service delays or issues			√

2) Define the Budget and Target ROI: Carefully budget for the IoT project and continuously monitor its progress to ensure it delivers the targeted ROI. It is vital to set target ROT metrics to evaluate tangible benefits, allowing companies to measure efficiency and evaluate the success of their IoT initiatives. This dual approach of budget definition and ROI targeting not only fosters financial accountability but also serves as a strategic roadmap, guiding companies to optimize their IoT investment.

3) Select the Right IoT Provider: Choose an IoT provider that aligns with your strategy and specific needs. This evaluation will include a thorough evaluation of key decision factors such as solution/product fit, scalability, willingness to develop customized solutions, data privacy & security measures, and the provider’s ability to provide the value-added services required to ensure a successful implementation. Other key decision factors include customer support and the provider’s track record for adapting to a rapidly evolving IoT landscape. Refer to Table 2 below for examples of key questions to ask to evaluate a prospective IoT provider:

Table 2

IoT Provider Evaluation: Key Questions

Key Decision Factors	Key Questions (examples)
Solution/Product Fit	● Does the provider offer a range of IoT device options? ● Does the provider have a solution tailored to the specific use case(s)?
Customization	● Is the provider willing to customize its solution to your needs or do they use a “one size fits all” approach?
Scalability	● How does the provider ensure scalability of its solution?
Data Privacy & Security	● Has the provider self-certified to leading data protection standards such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)? ● Does the provider have robust security measures to protect its customers’ IoT data, including access controls and data privacy & security policies & procedures?
Data Analytics	● Does the provider offer real-time data analytics with imbedded alert notifications so users can immediately respond to issues identified by IoT device-generated data? ● Does the provider’s software use data visualization techniques and dashboards to present analytics results in a user-friendly and actionable format for data-driven decision-making?
Systems Integration	● Does the provider offer a Systems Integration (or Professional Services) option to provide a turn-key solution?
Customer & Technical Support	● How does the provider deliver customer & technical support? Dedicated teams? Outsourced? ● What are their Service Level Agreement (SLA) commitments?
Technology/Innovation	● Does the provider offer AI, Driver Behavior Scores, and other best-in-class capabilities? ● What upcoming new devices or features are on their product roadmap?

4) Invest in Resources and Training: Invest in the resources required to deliver on the IoT goals & objectives and target ROI and in the training and development for your staff to build the necessary skills to plan, implement, and sustain the IoT deployment. The training should be cross-functional as highlighted in Table 3 below:

Table 3

IoT Training Requirements by Department

Training Requirements (examples)	IT	Operations & Maintenance	Support	Sales & Marketing	HR
Data Privacy & Security Protocols	√
Data Analytics & Mgt.	√
Integration / APIs	√
Firmware Updates	√
Device Mgt. & Maintenance		√	√
Device Troubleshooting		√	√
Platform/Software Use		√	√
IoT Solution Features & Capabilities	√	√	√	√	√
IoT Skill Development		√			√
Change Management (Note 1)	√	√	√	√	√

Note 1:

The cross-functional training should include Change Management sessions to ensure a smooth transition and acceptance of the IoT technology throughout the company.

Positioning Universal Overview

Positioning Universal (PUI) is the leading global supplier of off-the-shelf and customizable IoT hardware devices, along with GPS vehicle and asset monitoring solutions. PUI also offers Systems Integration services, offering turn-key solutions for seamless implementations that leverage our team’s deep knowledge of the IoT industry.

Systems Integration Services

PUI collaborates with companies to bridge the gap between diverse systems and data sources to deliver tailored solutions that drive efficiency, elevate customer experiences, and boost overall business performance. As the IoT market continues to rapidly evolve, PUI is ready to help businesses across various industries navigate the complexities of IoT implementations, ensuring alignment with strategic visions and operational objectives. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a rich history of innovation, PUI is a trusted partner to ensure businesses have successful IoT projects and thrive in a connected world.

Chasing Daylight: The Evolution of Solar Technology and its Application in the IoT Market

Jennifer Curley — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:04:56 +0000

Introduction

The history of solar technology stands as a testament to humanity’s enduring efforts to harness the sun’s energy. This journey traces back to ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, who ingeniously employed solar energy for heating and illuminating their structures. As far back as the 5th century BCE, the ancient Greeks designed buildings with large south-facing windows to maximize sunlight and warmth especially during the winter months.

The evolution of solar technology has accelerated over the past two centuries since the discovery of the photovoltaic effect and the development of the first true solar cell during the 19^th century. These breakthroughs paved the way for the modern era of solar energy, which has recently experienced exponential growth. For instance, global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity surged over 25-fold from 40 gigawatts (GW) in 2010 to 1 terawatt (TW) by April 2022.

In recent decades, solar technology has emerged as a powerful force in the global shift towards renewable energy sources. Its impact spans diverse sectors, from the vast expanses of solar energy farms to the harnessing of solar power for IoT devices. The potential of solar energy to drive a sustainable and cleaner future remains a guiding force in the evolving energy landscape.

Solar Technology Overview

Evolution

In 1839, a solar technology breakthrough occurred when French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel uncovered the photovoltaic effect. His experiment involved placing silver chloride in an acidic solution, which, when connected to platinum electrodes, generated an electric current. Later, in 1883, Charles Fritts constructed the first true solar cell by coating selenium (a semiconductor) with an extremely thin layer of gold.

However, it wasn’t until more than six decades later, in 1946, that Russel Ohl at Bell Labs made the next pivotal advancement by inventing and submitting a patent for the silicon solar cell. Subsequently, in April 1954, researchers at Bell Laboratories built upon Ohl’s work to unveil the first practical silicon solar cell. This silicon-based innovation marked the dawn of modern solar technology, setting the stage for further advancements in solar energy utilization and efficiency.

Solar Cell Efficiency

Solar cell efficiency is the sunlight that is converted via photovoltaics into electricity by the solar cell. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the U.S. Department of Energy, most solar panels used today for commercial and residential installations have efficiency ratings between 19% and 21%. Two companies, SunPower and Canadian Solar, have solar panels with maximum efficiency ratings of 22.8%.

In 2006, Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, developed a multijunction¹ concentrator solar cell that reached a record efficiency of 40.7%. Spectrolab’s solar panels are currently generating power in a 33 kW full-scale concentrator system located in the Australian desert. In 2019, a multijunction concentrator cell developed by NREL achieved 47.1% efficiency in a lab environment.

¹ Multijunction solar cells are made of several layers of different semiconductor materials which allow the cells to absorb more light per unit area and generate more electricity.

Solar-Powered GPS Trackers Overview

Use of Solar Technology in the IoT Market

Solar-powered GPS trackers made their debut in the mid-2010s with a primary focus on unpowered assets that required extended monitoring periods with minimal service and maintenance support. Over the last decade, the variety of assets tracked using solar technology has expanded significantly. This expansion has been driven by solar efficiency gains and the use of long-lasting backup batteries, enabling these devices to continuously operate even during extended periods of limited sunlight.

Solar asset trackers are now deployed on a diverse array of applications, including but not limited to trailers, containers, construction equipment, rental equipment, portable light towers, and generators.

The capabilities of solar asset trackers have been further enhanced through the integration of built-in connectors with cable accessories and the utilization of Bluetooth technology. These enhancements enable the monitoring of various parameters such as temperature, door status (opening and closing), and the detection of tractor power.

Key Benefits and Trade-Offs

Using solar power for asset tracking offers companies a cost-effective, sustainable, and versatile option, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements and reducing environmental impact. Solar asset trackers ensure reliable and uninterrupted tracking, making them ideal for a diverse set of use cases.

Key Benefits


Cost Efficiency	Reduced Maintenance	Extended Lifespan
Although the initial investment in solar asset tracking devices may be greater, they can yield long-term cost savings by reducing the need for battery replacements and maintenance trips.	Solar trackers typically require maintenance levels once installed. Regular cleaning of solar panels to remove dust, dirt, and debris is usually sufficient to keep the devices running efficiently.	Solar devices typically have longer lifespans compared to battery-operated alternatives. Since they continuously recharge, there is less wear and tear on components, leading to increased longevity.


Versatility	Sustainability	Continuous Power Supply
Solar trackers are deployed across a wide range of use cases such as monitoring trailers, containers, and construction equipment. They are especially effective in monitoring assets in remote areas where access to power sources may be limited or unavailable and where it is difficult for technicians to consistently provide service.	Solar trackers harness energy from the sun, which is a renewable and clean energy source. This reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional battery-powered devices and eliminates the need for frequent battery replacements, reducing electronic waste.	Solar asset tracking devices can operate continuously without frequent battery replacements or manual recharging. This is especially important for assets in remote areas or long-term tracking use cases, as it ensures the tracking device remains operational.

Trade-Offs

While solar technology offers numerous benefits for asset tracking, it’s important to consider the following trade-offs when choosing this option:

Initial Cost: The cost of solar asset trackers can be higher than traditional battery-operated alternatives due to the additional cost of the solar cells, charging circuitry, and other components.

Sunlight Dependency: Solar trackers rely on sunlight for power generation, so their efficiency can be reduced during extended periods of cloud cover, darkness, or when deployed on assets stored in covered areas while not in use.

Maintenance: Solar panels require periodic cleaning to ensure optimal energy generation. Dust, dirt, and debris on the solar panels will affect their efficiency, increasing the importance of installing devices on assets to maximize their accessibility to the sun, while protecting them from debris accumulation.

Installation Locations and Size: Installation of solar trackers must maximize their sunlight exposure which limits the ability to install the devices in hidden or more protective areas on the asset. The size of the device, due to its typically large solar panel, may also limit the installation location options on the asset.

Primary Decision Factors

When evaluating solar-powered versus battery-powered devices to monitor assets, it is crucial to consider the following factors:

Location and Environment: Assess the geographic location(s) where the solar trackers will be deployed. Ensure there is sufficient sunlight available throughout the year to charge the solar panel effectively. It’s important to also consider the amount of time the assets will spend in garages, storage areas, warehouses, and other covered locations which restrict the devices access to direct sunlight.

Battery Capacity and Operating Duration: Determine the battery capacity to ensure the solar tracker battery life aligns with the desired application. Also, identify the backup battery’s operating duration during periods of low sunlight. The backup battery lifespan, for specific reporting cycles, should be specified by the solar tracker provider (e.g., the backup battery will last 4 months at 12 reporting cycles per day).

Solar Cell Efficiency: Assess the efficiency of the solar cells in converting sunlight into electricity, as higher efficiency panels will recharge the solar tracker faster.

Deployment Duration: Consider the intended deployment duration. Solar trackers are ideal for longer term deployments with most devices offering between 5-to-10-year lifespans depending on tracking and reporting frequencies.

Cost and Budget: Evaluate the overall cost, including the initial purchase, installation, and ongoing operational costs. Determine the return on investment (ROI) based on a comparison of device, installation, and on-going maintenance costs.

Device Quality and Support: Research the solar asset tracker provider’s reputation for device quality, its customer & technical support capabilities, and its warranty period. A reliable support system is crucial for delivering a successful solar tracking experience.

Conclusion

Solar technology has undergone a remarkable evolution since the 19^th century, progressing from producing the first true solar cell in the last 1880s to deploying massive solar farms and solar cells with over 40% efficiency. In the IoT market, solar-powered solutions have experienced increasing adoption due to their reliability, versatility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.

It’s important, however, to understand the trade-offs associated with solar technology and to conduct a careful consideration of the key decisions factors when evaluating solar tracking for asset monitoring.

Positioning Universal: Solar Asset Trackers

Positioning Universal launched its solar asset trackers, the TT600 and TT603², in 2019. Key competitive differentiators for the TT600/603 are:

Frequent Tracking & Reporting Intervals: 1-minute GPS fix intervals with every 10-minute reporting.
Solar Cells Size & Efficiencies: one of the largest and most efficient (22%) solar panels in the market.
Long-lasting Backup Battery: up to 4 months at 12 reports/day.
Pre-Charged Battery: immediately monitor assets without concerns tracking will be inconsistent or stop due to depleted batteries.
6-axis Accelerometer: increases the data set available to evaluate accidents and roll-overs compared to the 3-axis accelerometers available on most solar trackers.

Positioning Universal continuously monitors relevant technological advancements, including emerging developments in solar technologies, in our constant quest to improve the quality of the telematics solutions we provide to our resellers and customers.

How Satellite Constellations Are Shaping Our World

Jennifer Curley — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 14:55:17 +0000

Intro

Satellite constellations comprise three distinct orbits: Geostationary Orbit (GEO), Middle Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These satellite constellations have exerted a profound and transformative influence on the global economy. RTI International estimates that GPS has generated roughly $1.4 trillion in economic benefits in the U.S. since it was made available for civilian and commercial use in the 1980s.

Background

GEO constellations, positioned at a fixed point above the equator, offer continuous coverage over specific regions, catering to vital sectors such as communication and weather observation. MEO constellations strike a balance between coverage and latency, making them pivotal for applications demanding both global reach and reduced communication delays. MEO is the home to the world’s leading Global Navigation Satellite Systems. LEO constellations, orbiting closer to the Earth’s surface, deliver diverse services, from high-speed internet to communications, leveraging their proximity to deliver fast data transmission with very low latency. LEO is experiencing rapid growth led by Starlink’s plan to deploy thousands of satellites in this constellation orbit.

Constellation	Positioning	Latency	# of Satellites (est.)
GEO	35,786 km	Medium (~700 ms)	580
MEO	5,000 – 20,000 km	Low (~150 ms)	139
LEO	500 – 1,200 km	Very Low (~50 ms)	>5,000

Geostationary Orbit (GEO)

GEO satellite constellations consist of satellites positioned at a fixed point above the Earth’s equator, approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) in altitude. Due to their stationary position relative to the Earth’s rotation, GEO satellites remain above the same geographic area, providing continuous coverage of a specific region.

GEO constellations provide stable and predictable coverage, making them ideal for applications where constant connectivity and coverage of specific areas are paramount. These constellations are commonly used for communication, broadcasting, weather observation, and navigation services.

Key players include Intelsat (52 satellites), Eutelsat (36 satellites), Inmarsat (14 satellites), and Asiasat (7 satellites).

Middle Earth Orbit (MEO)

Middle Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellations are positioned from 5,000 to 20,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface. MEO satellites offer a balance between coverage area and latency, making them suitable for applications that require a mix of global reach and relatively lower communication delays.

Despite its lower number of satellites, MEO is home to the leading Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNNS) including GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and GLONASS. Refer to our blog, “Unlocking the Power of Global Navigation Satellite Systems via Interoperability,” for additional details.

Key players include SES (acquired O3b Networks in 2016), Spacelink (Electro Optic Systems), Mangata Networks, Viasat, Intelsat, and Methera Global.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites satellite constellations are positioned from 500 to 1,200 kilometers above Earth’s surface. LEO satellites offer faster data transmission, reduced latency, and improved coverage compared to the other constellations.

Key LEO players include Iridium, Globalstar, Orbcomm, Starlink, OneWeb, Project Kuiper by Amazon, Telesat, and Planet Labs.

Positioning Universal Viewpoint

Positioning Universal continues to monitor advancements in satellite constellations technology, including new GPS III satellite technology being deployed in MEO and the rapid increase in the number of services being offered in LEO. Positioning Universal stays at the forefront of these advancements so we can further enhance the value provided to our customers.

Source: EOS Data Analytics

Unveiling the Fascinating Origins and Cutting-Edge Evolution of Bluetooth Technology

Jennifer Curley — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:06:38 +0000

Bluetooth technology is a wireless communication standard that enables short-range data transfer between Bluetooth-enabled electronic devices. It was first introduced in 1994 by Ericsson, and since then, it has become an integral part of numerous consumer electronics and industrial applications. Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and uses radio waves to establish connections between devices.

The current Bluetooth standard, introduced in December 2016, is Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 5.0 was updated in December 2019 with the releases of versions 5.1 and 5.2.

Bluetooth 5.1 introduced a significant feature called Direction-Finding, which enables more precise location tracking in telematics devices. This feature utilizes Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) techniques to estimate the direction of a Bluetooth signal. AoA determines the angle at which a signal arrives at a receiving device, while AoD determines the angle at which a signal is transmitted from a transmitting device.

Bluetooth Use in Telematics

Bluetooth technology is primarily used in telematics for vehicle connectivity to establish wireless connections between smartphones and/or tablets and in-vehicle systems. This connectivity enables companies and their drivers to monitor vehicle data and to receive alerts for any issues that may need immediate attention.

Bluetooth at Positioning Universal

At Positioning Universal, we make sure that every mobile IoT device is offered with a Bluetooth chip component (sometimes optional). We use chips with the latest Bluetooth versions to ensure our customers have the advantages of the latest technologies.

Telematics solutions continue to quickly evolve driven by improvements in core technologies including Bluetooth. At Positioning Universal, we remain at the forefront of these advancements, enabling us to continually enhance the value we deliver to our customers. We support advanced Bluetooth applications such as Bluetooth tag tracking and indoor location services using Bluetooth beacons.

Revolutionize Your Fleet Management with Positioning Universal’s Cutting-Edge Mobile IoT Solutions: Harnessing the Power of the CAN Bus Network

Jennifer Curley — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:21:06 +0000

Positioning Universal’s cutting-edge Mobile IoT solutions redefine the way you connect, monitor, and harness the power of your vehicles’ built-in technologies such as its CAN Bus network.

Background

The CAN Bus (Controller Area Network Bus), a standard vehicle component, enables seamless communication between various electronic control units (ECUs). Today’s vehicles are equipped with an array of features, sensors, and systems that work together to provide an enhanced driving experience.

The CAN Bus acts as the nervous system of a vehicle allowing ECUs to transmit and receive information. It offers a centralized pathway for communication, eliminating the need for each feature to be individually connected. The CAN Bus simplifies wiring, reduces costs, and enhances efficiency.

The CAN Bus also enables compatibility with external devices like telematics systems. For example, our FT7500 connects to the vehicle’s CAN Bus. The FT7500 syncs to the vehicle through a simple, seamless installation and then accesses the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to read custom parameters from each vehicle.

The CAN Bus, by providing a centralized and efficient method for devices to interact, enhances fleet management, improves safety, and optimizes the integration of external devices for monitoring and customization. Positioning Universal is a GPS pioneer with members of its management team having launched several of the leading companies in the market. We stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and have deep domain knowledge of fleet technology including CAN Bus, Dash Cameras, and GPS device architecture.

Source: Chipkin

Urban streets vs Rural roads, which is a bigger threat?

Jennifer Curley — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 22:12:00 +0000

Urban streets and rural roads are two different beasts, especially for the fleet driver. Even for everyday drivers like myself, I loathe routing through packed urban streets, where everyone is in a rush and the lanes are very claustrophobic. But then just thinking about rural roads and long road trips makes me flirt with slumber wherever I am.

Now, imagine that for a fleet driver, hauling tons of cargo and completing long trips in both environments daily. It is hard to confidently decide which is harder for them and which is less safe. Having big trucks deliver necessary items to stores in packed streets, through tight turns and cramped spaces—where often drivers must cone off areas and hope the drivers comply—is a nightmare. But on the other side, seeing the same shade of green on hour twelve and day five of driving likewise poses major threats to fleet safety. So, which is riskier, and how can fleet drivers approach both environments to stay as safe as possible?

Urban vs Rural Roads: What the stats tell us

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities occurred more on rural roads than urban roads consecutively from 2008-2016. However, in 2017 and 2018 the trend changed, and urban roads actually saw more fatalities. However, when tightening the scope to commercial vehicles, rural roads still pose the biggest threat to fleet safety. The NHTSA reported in 2017 that for commercial vehicles 58 percent of the 4,761 road fatalities involving a large truck occurred on rural roads compared to 40 percent in urban streets.

While rural roads pose the bigger risk for fleet operations, both are very prevalent and deserve a deeper examination.

Rural Roads: Causes and Solutions

For rural roads, the threats for fleet safety include a lack of seatbelt usage, distraction from the road, higher overall speeds, and finally the remote location that these accidents take place.

Seatbelt Usage

According to a study conducted by the CDC in 2017, the death rate in motor vehicle accidents are three to ten times higher in rural counties compared to urban ones, and in that same study it was found that drivers in rural counties use their seatbelts less. Seatbelts are essential to staying safe on the road, so even if accident rates were the same on rural and urban roads, the lack of seatbelt usage helps explain why fatalities are so much more common on rural roads.

Distractions (Rural)

For me personally, this is my biggest threat while driving in rural environments. Distractions are everywhere, especially nowadays with vastly improved internet connectivity. For rural roads, though, the monotony of the drive can cause drivers to lose focus while driving. From our previous blog post on Distracted Driving, we can se that distracted driving is not just scrolling through twitter while driving, or turning around to tell your kids to stop fighting with each other. It also includes things such as daydreaming, which is very common in rural environments.

High Overall Driving Speeds

The rural roads virtually always have higher speed limits than its urban counterparts, and therefore the accidents on those roads usually occur at higher speeds. Naturally, with higher speed collisions comes more drastic casualties. It always feels as though these open roads are perfect for racing through, but that likewise poses major threats to vehicle safety.

Remote Location

Another factor that makes rural collisions have such a higher fatality rate is the actual location where it happens. Rural roads are rural because there is not much around it. Often these roads feature signs like “Next McDonalds 400 miles” which lets everyone know they are on their own for a while. But when looking at that through the lens of driver safety, it also means many lifesaving resources—hospitals, ambulances, etc.—are also few and far between. So, should an accident occur, the response time could be low, and if in a spot with no service, communication is not even possible.

Rural Road Solutions

For fleet drivers, the best solution to safely traversing the open road is utilizing every resource possible. For the first three threats, a consistent and thorough training program can help instill the best driving practices in drivers and reduce things like not wearing a seatbelt or getting distracted on the road.

On top of that, GPS tracking telematics solutions are vital to fleet safety. Solutions such as Positioning Universal’s AI Fleet Camera Solution, allow fleet managers to not only see what is happening on the road, but can also look into the cabin and verify if the driver is practicing good driving behavior which includes wearing a seatbelt and staying focused on the road. Likewise, the FT7500 gateway solution, which seamlessly pairs with the AI Fleet Camera, reliably tracks the location of the vehicle and monitors speed and idling. This feature is critical to responsiveness to collisions in rural roads because the gateway automatically alerts fleet managers of collisions and gives them the accurate location of the vehicle, allowing managers to expedite response times no matter how far away they are. Historically, this has saved many lives in collisions and is something that is invaluable for overall fleet safety.

Urban Roads: Causes and Solutions

While rural roads are more fatal, the number of accidents, and resulting deaths, have been increasing over time. The main threats to urban roads include distractions (but in a different form), street violations, generally crowded and tight streets, and overall aggressive/reckless driving.

Distractions (Urban)

While rural roads can lead to daydreaming and dozing off, urban streets are quite the opposite. There are many new things happening every second and with everything going on, distractions are almost inevitable. Cities like Los Angeles and New York feature billboards and LED signs all over the road, tempting even the most focused drivers to see what its all about. On top of that, though, since traffic is worse in urban areas, drivers often use their phones while slowly traversing the urban environment. This becomes very dangerous, though, as even the smallest distractions can lead to a collision.

Street Violations

As brought up in our last article about Rolling Stops, approximately 50% of accidents are attributed to intersections, and many of these intersection related accidents derive from a street/traffic violation. Whether that be a rolling stop at a stop sign/red light, an illegal U-turn, improper yielding in things such as round-a-bouts, or other violations, they all add up and cause a significant number of accidents. Some of these violations come from driver’s willingly trying to rush through, but also the nature of urban streets makes it difficult to properly drive through.

Crowded and Tight Streets

Similar to street violations, the nature of urban roads allows very little room for error. A slight mistake or distraction can lead to an accident because the streets are very compact and filled with not only other drivers, but many pedestrians as well. For fleet drivers this threat is compounded with the fact that their vehicle is so big.

Aggressive/Reckless Driving

It seems that every person I know from a major city claims that drivers in their city are “crazy” or “don’t care”. And to be fair, every major city I have driven in, I have had the same reaction. In tight city streets, many drivers practice poor driving behaviors like tailgating, reckless driving, and harsh accelerations/braking. These actions inevitably lead to more accidents on the road. Considering that most of these behaviors derive from wanting to get to their destination faster, fleet drivers—who on average drive slower than everyday drivers—are even more threatened by aggressive driving because the drivers are trying to get around them and beat them to a particular spot.

Urban Roads Solutions

Urban road solutions look very similar to rural road solutions from a high level. Proper training and utilization of telematics technologies are key to ensuring safe fleets. When inspecting with a finer lens, urban road training should focus on reacting to all the different elements of the road and likewise best practices on getting through tight spaces. On the telematics side, the AI Fleet Camera Solution and FT7500 Gateway can monitor when fleet drivers make mistakes on the road and give managers video footage for things to improve. Likewise, though, it can help managers locate causes of accidents that do happen and identify whether the driver was at fault. This can be invaluable towards saving the fleet money when they are not in the wrong. But more than anything else, having these tracking solutions gives drivers more assurance on the road, which is vital in stressful driving situations like urban roads.

Conclusion

In all, both rural and urban roads pose serious threats to fleet drivers and their safety. While rural roads produce more fatalities than their urban counterparts, both require necessary training and technology to keep everyone safe. Solutions like Positioning Universal’s AI Fleet Camera and FT7500 Gateway are both amazing tools that not only assure the driver but offer game-changing insights to create a better future of fleet operations.

Using Telematics to reduce Rolling Stops

Jennifer Curley — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 22:13:53 +0000

The rolling stop. We all have been there. Maybe it was when you were running late, or its just a routine stop sign that you just know gets zero traffic. The California roll is a common term for a reason.

Although common, and seemingly safe, rolling stops are quite dangerous and not only put the driver at harm, but many others as well. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration cites that approximately 50% of all traffic injuries are attributed to intersections. Considering that there are 4.4 million traffic injuries each year in the United States, that means over 2 million traffic incidents are intersection related. Likewise, in a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 787,236 intersection related accidents were studied and they found that 96% of the accidents were driver caused. Of those driver caused accidents, 29% were caused by decision errors including illegal movements (such as rolling stops), speeding, reckless driving, and false assumptions of other’s actions. As one can see, rolling stops factor for a significant amount of traffic injuries and fatalities each year.

On top of risking safety and causing injuries, rolling stops have other consequences too. Since it is a traffic violation, costly tickets—reaching to up to $500 in certain states—are a result of getting caught rolling through a stop sign. Likewise, drivers can receive points on their licenses and have to attend traffic school to remove them. From a fleet management standpoint, not only do rolling stops heavily impede on fleet safety, but they also can be very costly.

Rolling Stop Definition

Before exploring rolling stops further, a true definition is needed. A rolling stop is defined as a vehicle failing to come to a complete stop—that is all 4 wheels ceasing movement—at either a stop sign or a right turn permitted red light. Rolling stops are a violation of the traffic laws. They are caused by many different factors, all of which can be trained and prevented with the right program. This is essential for fleet operations as they can not only be costly, but also unsafe.

Rolling Stop Causes for Fleet Drivers

Distractions

One of the main causes for rolling stops are distractions to the driver. As detailed in our Distracted Driving post, it is very dangerous and leads to many accidents annually. These distractions can range from phone usage and texting to mind wandering/daydreaming. In all, distractions can be both physical and mental, and make it very easy to roll through a stray stop sign on a route someone has traveled hundreds of times.

Deadlines

Fleet drivers operate under very tight schedules. And to make matters worse, those tight deadlines are even tighter with all the variability of the road such as unexpected traffic, collisions, and vehicle malfunctions. So, with this very tight window to complete routes, drivers look to save as much time as possible. Even everyday drivers do this as well. I know I am always looking for ways to optimize my routes and take any shortcuts possible so that I can make it to my destination on time. Because of this, a rolling stop every so often seems appealing because it will save some time that drivers are always trying to find.

Bad Driving Habits

Have certain bad driving habits also factors into rolling stops. We all have different bad driving habits, and some of those might be rolling through stop signs. Fortunately, this is very correctible through proper training.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another cause of rolling stops. Just like distracted driving, fatigue and drowsiness may cause drivers to either not see the stop sign, or not register whether or not they stopped fully. Fatigue while driving is very dangerous beyond the point of rolling stops too, so it is very important to pull over when experiencing fatigue when on the road.

How Telematics can Help

By utilizing the right telematics solutions, fleet managers can ensure that rolling stops are minimized. When looking at the different causes of rolling stops, we notice that they all are correctible through proper training and attentive driving. But more than that, telematics solutions offer unique tools for fleet managers to verify their driver’s practices. First and foremost, by utilizing Positioning Universal’s AI Fleet Camera Solution, coupled with the FT7500 gateway solution, fleet managers will actually be notified of rolling stops and provided video of the event. This video provides footage of both the road and the cabin, allowing for fleet managers to see what the driver is doing during the event. Now managers can identify if the problem is related to distractions, fatigue, other reasons just by viewing the video. In this example we can see how the driver was not distracted, but rather rolled through the stop sign because he did not see any oncoming traffic.

On top of that, having the ability to track how often rolling stops occur allows for better prioritization during training. If fleets have a high number, group trainings can be conducted to correct behavior, whereas if only a few drivers commit the violation, more private conversations can be held. By unlocking this information, managers have a much better picture into the practices of their drivers, and now have the ability to fully optimize fleet operations. Not only does this technology allow for faster operations and reduced costs, but most importantly it illuminates potential issues that can end up saving lives.

Cellular Frequency Bands and their Impact on Telematics

Jennifer Curley — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 20:56:06 +0000

On episode 2 of Well’s Words, Positioning Universal CEO Mark Wells briefly discussed cellular frequency bands that smart phones, as well as mobile IOT devices, use to transmit data through the network. Today we are going to dive further into cellular frequency bands and what they mean in the greater telematics picture.

In the episode, Mark Wells illustrated how mobile IOT devices have 1-3 “bands” versus smartphones that have over 30 of these bands to work on. Likewise, he mentioned that smartphones can use multiple technologies whereas mobile IOT devices usually only use 1 technology (4G LTE). So, the question is what are these “bands” and how do they work? Let us examine this question through the lens of the smartphone.

Cellular Frequency Band Basics

Before we jump into the nuts and bolts of frequency bands and how they work, let us take a step back. Smart phones are so great because they merged the ability to makes calls with the ability to access the internet. On top of that, with a smartphone, you can access the internet from anywhere, unlike your computer. Normally, accessing the internet requires an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection. But as seen from walking a little bit away from your connection (say your house, for example) the connection through Wi-Fi gets lost as it only stretches a limited distance.

The G’s (Generations) of Signal

The beauty of smartphones is that devices can access the internet without the need for Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable. Smartphones can connect anywhere there is a cellular connection. 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G are all different versions of this connection, or technology as Mark Wells refers to it. 5G is the fastest connection to date, but smart phones can still use the other technologies to try and connect to the internet if necessary. This is why sometimes in bad service areas your phone shows 3G service because the 4G and 5G connections do not work there. These technologies each represent the figurative tunnel/pipe that data can travel through to get to the cell tower. More on this later.

The Wave

Data travels and is communicated through radio signals. Whenever a signal is transmitted, it travels as a waveform. Each wave has a specific frequency that distinguishes it from another wave. The wave’s frequency is how many cycles of that wave are completed per second of time and is measured in Hertz (Hz). The diagram below shows how a different frequency affects the shape of the waveform. Notice how the bottom wave completes two full cycles while the top wave only completes one.

Using this example, at a high level a cellular frequency band is a range of different frequencies. When radio signals are sent out, they actually use a range of frequencies to communicate their message. The width of that range represents the “bandwidth” of the data and indicates how much data can be processed through the signal. The more bandwidth, the more data that can be processed, leading to less congestion in the network, and thus faster speeds. As an analogy, think of the bandwidth as the number of lanes on a highway. The more lanes, the faster the traffic will flow, where the traffic represents the data being sent to the cell tower. On top of that, different frequencies serve different purposes. Higher frequency bands travel faster, but only for a limited range, and are unable to penetrate barriers (buildings, hills, trees, etc.) very well. Lower frequency bands can travel farther and through barriers well but operate at slower speeds. So higher frequency bands are better suited for higher populated urban areas whereas lower frequency bands work well in more rural environments.

Looking at this, cellular carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) would want to be able to provide access to multiple different types of bands so that their user can optimally access the internet in as many places as possible. With a limited amount of radio spectrum and technological capacity, though, this makes the process a little more complex.

Cellular Frequency Bands: A Closer Look

Frequency bands in the United States are licensed to different carriers through the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). While some bands are solely licensed to a specific carrier, most bands are split up into different “blocks” that each carrier can use. This way, multiple carriers can have access to bands that operate at certain frequencies and provide better performance. Each block consists of a group of one or more channels. A channel is a range of frequencies. Now I know we said bands were a range of frequencies, so what is the difference? Well, at a high level, cellular frequency bands represent a range of frequencies used to send data. But digging deeper, channels are the range of frequencies that live underneath the umbrella of bands.

The true definition of a band is that it is one or more similar channels that are grouped together and labeled as one band for convenience and licensing. These channels have a certain width, which determines the bandwidth, and the frequencies they cover can overlap with other channels in the band. From here, to allow multiple carriers, a band is broken up into different blocks, all containing those same channels, so that more carriers can use the band without interference.

To visualize how this works, let us look at the figure of a town community below. In this community we see a central road and two neighborhoods containing three loops of different houses that are of varying sizes.

Radio Spectrum = Central Road

The central road represents the radio spectrum that consists of all the different frequencies of waves. This spectrum gets sliced into different “neighborhoods” or frequency bands.

Neighborhood = Frequency Band

The neighborhood represents a frequency band. It takes up a specific amount of distance along the road, which is a specific range of frequencies.

Loops = Blocks

Each loop can be thought of as a different block. The blocks have the same houses within them and act as subdivisions of the neighborhood. Note that frequency bands are not required to have blocks, and that some frequency bands do not have blocks.

Houses = Channels

The houses represent channels. Each channel contains frequencies within the band’s specified range.

House Size = Bandwidth

The size of the house, or channel, can be thought of as the bandwidth. Notice how house 2 in the first neighborhood is bigger than house 1. This would mean this channel’s bandwidth is higher. Think about how with house 2, more people (or data) can fit in it, and by doing that, faster speeds result.
To increase bandwidth further, a method called carrier aggregation was developed. This allowed up to eight channels to be merged to support an even wider range of frequencies and reach peak bandwidths.

With this visual, we can see what frequency bands are and how they are organized in the radio spectrum. But a few questions/uncertainties might still be lingering. For instance, why do signals travel in a range of frequency? Also, where does 5G (and the other technologies for that matter) factor in?

Data Modulation

As we have now learned, frequency bands contain different channels that support a range of frequencies and that range represents the channel’s bandwidth. But why exactly does each channel need a range of frequencies to send a message? This is because when sending data, the signal wave undergoes a process called data modulation. Data is represented in binary code, which is a list of 0’s and 1’s. So, to translate that to a frequency wave that can be sent to a cell tower, the device uses a base “carrier” wave and adjusts it. By changing the frequency when a binary 1 is present, the wave now can carry the binary message that the cell tower can actually read and convert back to a digital signal. The main goal of data modulation is to squeeze as much data into the limited bandwidth present in the channels. Below is a figure that shows a form of digital modulation called Frequency Shift Keying (FSK).

In phones today an optimized process of modulation, combined with multiplexing, is used, called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). This process involves creating sub-channels within the channel, with each having its own sub-carrier waves to send the signal. These sub-carrier waves are positioned orthogonally from each other to avoid interference. This method creates a very high spectral efficiency and minimizes signal loss.

Where does 5G come in?

5G technology comes into play at the channel level and works to increase the bandwidth of those channels. 4G technologies normally operate with 20MHz wide channels, and 5G manages to handle 100MHz to 400MHz wide channels. Even more, 5G utilizes more advanced communication protocols that lowers latency—the time it takes for a request to be sent to a server and come back—down from ~53 milliseconds with 4G technology to below 30 milliseconds with 5G. Also factoring into 5G’s lower latency is its incorporation of channels with much higher frequencies than 4G ever had. While 4G technology supported channels in the range of 700-2500MHz, 5G technology is adopting frequency bands in the 25+ GHz range (as well as still having the lower bands present in 4G). Overall, with faster data and more bandwidth, 5G can serve more users quicker, which is something more and more needed as people continue to use more and more IOT devices. With 4G technology, roughly 4,000 devices can be supported per square kilometer, but with 5G technology 1 million devices per square kilometer can be connected.

Tying it all Together

Using this information, we can see the obstacles that Mark Wells indicates in the episode. Smartphones have access to lots of different frequency bands to try and connect to cell towers. They can even “roam” and use other carrier’s blocks to try and connect. Mobile IOT devices, such as the solutions provided by Positioning Universal, only have access to one or maybe a few frequency bands and only one technology (4G LTE). Since different frequencies work better in different geographies/environments, this poses a big connectivity challenge. However, Positioning Universal thrives on working through this limitation and still providing exceptional connectivity and real-time speeds. Every product undergoes thousands of miles of road testing in many different environments and geographies. Also, Positioning Universal offers unparalleled cloud-based device management. By diligently handling all over-the-air programming of deployed devices—including software updates and settings changes—each device reliably connects and delivers all of its critical information no matter what condition.