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Figure 1: Block diagram of Murata Electronics’ LBWA1ZV1CD-716
module
data and storing or transferring
that data to a server, to its analyses
and the formulation of results,
and ultimately acting on those
results. The companies that can
most benefit from the IIoT aren’t
necessarily best placed to implement
such a framework; it will instead
fall to providers looking to bring
the value of the IIoT to a wide
range of customers. This is already
in evidence as some companies
reposition themselves to provide
all or part of an IIoT framework.
Electric Imp is one example, it
now offers a Connectivity Platform
comprising hardware (or ‘nodes’),
software (including an operating
system), cloud-based services
and management tools. Some of
its customers are already using
this platform to gather real-time
data across a number of industries
including commercial refrigeration,
HVAC systems and manufacturing
equipment.
Wireless Connectivity
Provides the Feedback
While sensors provide the ability
to measure almost any real-world
parameter, it is connectivity that
provides the feedback to an IIoT
framework. Connecting industrial
equipment that is often large, in
challenging environments or even
constantly moving is difficult.
While there are many wire-based
approaches to this, such as CAN,
Industrial Ethernet or RS232/422
as an example, they all exhibit
the same drawback of needing a
physical connection. In a growing
number of applications, wireless
connectivity has been proven to
offer significant advantages, not
least the flexibility of having no
physical connection. Most wireless
protocols have been conceived to
offer security and robustness, and
are capable of operating in almost
any environment. With volumes
driven by the consumer sector, the
hardware needed to implement a
wireless connection is now available
at a compellingly low price point,
enabling module manufacturers to
compete with the cost of wire-based
connectivity while offering all of the
advantages inherent with a wireless
solution.
As well as a turn-key platform,
Electric Imp also provides the
elements of an IIoT solution,
including a Wi-Fi module developed
to connect IoT nodes to its cloud
service. The LBWA1ZV1CD-716
smart module is brought to market
by Murata Electronics and integrates
a Wi-Fi connectivity device from
Broadcom with a powerful ARM
Cortex-M4 based microcontroller
from STMicroelectronics.
Measuring just 10mm by 7.9mm
by 1.25mm, the smart module also
offers 23 I/Os that can be configured
as analogue inputs/outputs, SPI,
UART, I2C or general purpose digital
I/O. The flexibility of the module’s
I/O would allow it to be implemented
as an IIoT node with minimal
configuration, as it is able to host
an application and connect directly
to the many sensors now equipped
with I2C interfaces, for example.
The ability to provide built-in access
to its cloud-based services makes
Electric Imp a compelling optionwhen
adopting an IIoT strategy, however
some applications may require a
more open approach, by offering
the ability to connect to a different
network or service provider. In this
case it may be necessary to develop
more of the middleware needed to
interface to a backend, fortunately
module developers appreciate this
and are now providing modules with
Software Development Kits (SDKs),
such as the WGM110A1MV1 Wizard
Gecko from Silicon Labs.
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