Low power cellular IoT

Explore Limitless Possibilities with Ultra-Low Power Cellular IoT

The advent of cellular IoT technology has opened up a world of new applications. However, when ultra-low power capabilities are introduced into the equation, the potential applications grow exponentially, revolutionizing the IoT landscape.

Unleashing Unmatched Power Efficiency and Advanced Performance

Introducing the nRF91 Series, Nordic's groundbreaking line of low-power cellular devices designed exclusively for the Internet of Things. Built with a relentless focus on energy efficiency and security right from their inception, the nRF91 devices redefine the standards of excellence in the world of cellular IoT. By seamlessly integrating LTE-M, NB-IoT, GNSS, RF front end (RFFE), and power management into an incredibly compact package, the nRF91 Series opens up new frontiers of advanced application performance and possibilities.

Maximizing Asset Tracking Efficiency: Harnessing the Power of nRF91 Series

Billions of dollars are lost annually due to asset misplacement, damage, or theft. Implementing reliable asset tracking is a cost-effective solution to monitor and locate assets effectively.

The nRF91 Series revolutionizes asset tracking with its ultra-low power capabilities over LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular networks, coupled with integrated GNSS support. This unique combination offers the best of both worlds, providing LTE-based location services for low power consumption and lower accuracy, while integrated GNSS ensures high-precision tracking. To optimize your asset tracking application you can integrate the nRF70 Series in the design to achieve SSID-based Wi-Fi location. 

Recommended Hardware:

• Nordic Thingy:91 - A versatile cellular prototyping platform that serves as an ideal proof-of-concept solution. It features the nRF9160 SiP, a single LTE-M/NB-IoT/GNSS antenna, and an array of user-controlled external sensors. The Asset Tracking app comes preloaded, allowing for quick evaluation and testing. The app also connects to nRF Cloud out of the box and lets developers test out different nRF Cloud Location services.
  
• nRF9160 DK - This development kit expedites application development and testing. With its programmer/debugger chip, you can easily evaluate and program your applications. The kit offers an I/O interface for connecting external components, along with dedicated antennas for GNSS and LTE-M/NB-IoT. Measure power consumption using the Power Profiler Kit 2 or compatible third-party equipment, and leverage the Online power profiler to estimate battery life.
  
  

Recommended Software:

Our nRF Connect SDK features the Asset Tracker application, serving as a valuable reference and starting point for your development journey:

• nRF9160: Asset Tracker v2
  
  

Recommended Cloud Services:

Experience the full potential of nRF91 Series with our nRF Cloud services. We provide optimized location services and Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA) capabilities specifically tailored for low-power devices. Choose from various location service options, including A-GPS, P-GPS, Single-cell, and Multi-cell, and SSID-based Wi-Fi location (nRF70 device required) based on your application's accuracy and power consumption requirements.

Transforming Utility Infrastructures: Embrace the Power of Smart Metering

Managing and maintaining utility infrastructures is becoming more intricate. Disruptive technologies like renewable energy, wind, solar, and hydrogen are driving the evolution of utility systems, opening up significant opportunities for smart metering.

Smart meters play a crucial role in this transformation by enabling the collection and processing of metered information. They offer a range of benefits, including:

• Monitoring and Controlling Infrastructure:
  Smart meters provide real-time monitoring and control capabilities for utility infrastructures. This empowers efficient management, allowing providers to optimize resource allocation and streamline operations.
  
  
• Driving Efficiency in Transmission and Distribution Networks:
  Through smart metering, utility providers can unlock efficiencies in transmission and distribution networks. By identifying and addressing bottlenecks and inefficiencies, they can enhance overall network performance, reduce energy losses, and achieve cost savings.
  
  
• Improving Operational Effectiveness:
  Smart metering solutions streamline operational processes by eliminating manual meter reading and enabling remote configuration and diagnostics. This boosts operational efficiency, enabling providers to focus on delivering exceptional service to their customers.
  
  
• Empowering Informed Decision-Making:
  Smart meters make metered data readily available to end-users. By accessing accurate and real-time information, consumers can make informed choices about their energy usage, fostering greater energy efficiency and sustainability.

 

Recommended Hardware:

• nRF9160 DK - This development kit expedites application development and testing. With its programmer/debugger chip, you can easily evaluate and program your applications. The kit offers an I/O interface for connecting external components, along with dedicated antennas for GNSS and LTE-M/NB-IoT. Measure power consumption using the Power Profiler Kit 2 or compatible third-party equipment, and leverage the Online power profiler to estimate battery life.
• Nordic Thingy:91 - A versatile cellular prototyping platform that serves as an ideal proof-of-concept solution. It features the nRF9160 SiP, a single LTE-M/NB-IoT/GNSS antenna, and an array of user-controlled external sensors. The Asset Tracking app comes preloaded, allowing for quick evaluation and testing.

 

Recommended Software:

For smart metering applications, it is recommended to use UDP-based protocols when communicating with a server to avoid unnecessary overhead and save power. In our nRF Connect SDK we have several samples that are an excellent starting point for your smart metering applications:

• nRF CoAP Client

• LwM2M Client

 

Recommended Cloud Services:

In nRF Cloud we now provide location services and FOTA specifically designed and optimized for low power devices as the nRF9160 SiP. You can select between several different location services such as A-GPS, P-GPS, Single-cell and Multi-cell depending on your applications needs of accuracy and power consumption. nRF Cloud will soon support the CoAP transport, in addition to the already supported MQTT and REST transports.