iBeacon, Eddystone, Bluetooth, IoT sensor beacons, apps, platforms
We have two new industrial temperature and humidity and sensors with built-in displays.
The Minew MST01-02 and MST01-03 are similar except that the latter has the probe on a 1m cable and has a slightly higher maximum 80C temperature rather than 70C for the MST01-02.
Multiple temperature and humidity thresholds can be set. When values are exceeded, there is an audio alarm and a visual indication shown on the screen.
We now have the Minew S4 door window sensor in stock.
This is a door or window open/closed sensor with a tamper alarm. It stores up to 2048 records readable with included app. The Bluetooth advertising includes the battery level, magnet detection status, anti-tamper status and the MAC address.
We have the new Minew MSL01 water leak sensor in stock.
The two probes are positioned vertically where there’s the possibility of a water leak. Special Bluetooth advertising is sent every second, by default, indicating whether there is a water leak or not, together with the battery level. There’s also an external on-off switch on the back.
The advertising can be picked up by a gateway or detected by scanning for Bluetooth on iOS and Android. The replaceable battery lasts up to 5 years at the default Bluetooth advertising frequency.
Having a beacon being able to detect humidity (and temperature) while at the same time being waterproof is difficult to achieve because the case itself usually needs to be waterproof thus preventing the sensor on the printed circuit board from sampling the environment. The new M52-PA-S is unique in that it solves this problem by having a permeable seal on the case and a waterproof printed circuit board.
The ‘PA’ signifies this beacon also has an extra RF amplifier for a longer range up to 150m. This beacon can be used in many different modes: 1 channel advertising, 2 channels advertising, 1 + 2 advertising, sensor advertising and Meeblue fixed data. The two main advertising channels can be iBeacon, Eddystone UID, Eddystone URL or user defined. When sensor advertising, the main channels are disabled and advertising includes a unique id, temperature, humidity and battery voltage.
The new INGICS iBS08 human detection sensor beacon uses a IT thermal sensor to detect occupancy. It’s better than a PIR sensor beacon in that it can detect the presence of a human even if they are not moving. It’s powered by a CR2450 battery and has a battery life of 1.8 years with a 30-second advertising interval.
There are two models with two distinct angles to cater to a variety of needs. The iBS08S model provides a wide field of view (FOV) of 35 degrees, making it perfect for shorter distance applications, with a detection range of up to 100cm. The iBS08L offers a narrower FOV of 10 degrees, tailored for longer distance applications and boasting a detection range of up to 250cm.
The device are equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5 technology, supporting Coded Phy, with a Bluetooth range of up to 100M.
This beacon is available by special order from BeaconZone.
We now have a white version of the K8 as well as the black version in stock.
The K8 is different in that it has tags for screw fixing. It also has an on/off button at the side that can also be used for triggering. It also has an accelerometer that can be used for advertising x, y z or to set up motion triggered broadcast.
There’s an innovative use of beacons mentioned in the research paper on Developing a Human Motion Detector using Bluetooth. Beacons and its Applications (PDF).
Most motion sensing applications usually place a sensor beacon on the things that will move. The accelerometer in the beacon reports movement. The research paper describes an alternative method of detecting movement of a person, an elderly person in this case, based on the change in blocking of the beacon signal over time. This has the advantage that the beacon doesn’t need to be worn. Also, it doesn’t have to be a accelerometer beacon as any beacon can be used.
The problem with using the strength of the beacon signal (RSSI), is that it varies over time even when there’s no change of blocking in the room. This is due to radio frequency (RF) noise and reflection. The authors of the paper looked into smoothing of the data to filter out such variance in the data:
The report concludes that when averaging over three or more RSSI values, it’s possible to minimise the RF variance and reliably detect the variance caused by human movement in the room.
Another, more reliable, way of detecting movement is to use a beacon with built-in PIR such as the iBS02PIR, M52-PIR, IX32 or MSP01.
Recent research A Comprehensive Study on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Micro-Energy Harvesting from Ambient Sources, from researchers in Spain, discusses the potential of micro-energy harvesting (MEH) as a sustainable power source for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, specifically Bluetooth sensors.
Micro-Energy Harvesting (MEH) is a technology that captures and converts small amounts of environmental energy such as like light, heat, or motion into electrical energy, which can power small electronic devices. The study suggests that MEH could be a sustainable solution for powering Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including Bluetooth sensors, due to their low power requirements.
The benefits of MEH include reducing the need for costly and environmentally harmful battery replacements and enabling the deployment of IoT devices in remote or hard-to-reach areas. The study also points out challenges, such as the small and variable amount of energy that can be harvested, which may not provide a reliable power supply for devices that need a steady source of energy. However, even with small temperature gradients between the environment and the cold side of the thermoelectric generator, it wass possible to make several communications per hour.
We offer a range of sensor beacons but what each beacon actually senses or detects is buried deep in the respective beacon descriptions.
As we have recently added new sensor beacons, we have updated our downloadable pdf showing what each beacon can detect.
If you want to know how you might use these beacons, take a look at our articles on Beacon Proximity and Sensing for the Internet of Things (IoT) , Using Bluetooth LE and Using Bluetooth LE Sensors.
In today’s competitive business environment, companies are constantly seeking ways to improve their operations, increase their efficiency and reduce costs. One way to achieve these goals is by implementing smart sensing technology to save energy costs and improve business processes.
Smart sensing technology allows businesses to monitor their operations in real-time, enabling them to identify areas where energy can be saved and process improvements can be made. By using sensors to measure factors such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, light level, and movement, businesses can gain valuable insights into their operations and make informed decisions to improve efficiency.
One of the key advantages of smart sensing technology is the ability to save energy costs. By using sensors to monitor energy usage, businesses can identify areas where energy is being wasted and take steps to reduce consumption. For example, by monitoring temperature levels, a business can adjust heating and cooling systems to maintain optimal levels while minimizing energy usage. This can lead to significant cost savings over time, as well as a more environmentally friendly business.
In addition to saving energy costs, smart sensing technology also helps businesses improve their processes. By monitoring operations in real-time, businesses can identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and take steps to improve them. For example, by using sensors to monitor the movement of goods within a warehouse, a business can identify areas where processes can be streamlined, reducing the time and effort required to move goods and improving overall efficiency.
Starting small with low-cost sensors in areas where the most significant gains can be made is a smart approach to implementing smart sensing technology. Bluetooth beacons are an example of such sensors that can detect movement (accelerometer), movement (started/stopped moving), button press, temperature, humidity, air pressure, light level, open/closed (magnetic hall effect), proximity (PIR), proximity (cm range), fall detection, smoke, natural gas, and water leak. These beacons can be placed in strategic locations to monitor and collect data about operations, which can then be used to make informed decisions.
Bluetooth gateways detect the beacons and send data for subsequent processing. Starting simple using simple server-side scripts and triggered events can be an effective way to begin implementing smart sensing technology. Avoiding SAAS and subscription-based systems, instead preferring simple stand-alone solutions can help keep costs down and ensure that businesses have financial control over these innovations.
Implementing smart sensing technology provides numerous benefits for businesses, including cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced process control. While these technologies are sometimes labelled as IoT or Industry 4.0, it’s best to ignore the hype and instead concentrate on practical matters. By starting small and using low-cost sensors in strategic locations, businesses can gain valuable insights into their operations and make informed decisions to improve their processes and reduce costs.