IoT
Smart-meter ICs improve billing accuracy
Enabling utility companies to improve billing by accurately measuring down to extremely low power levels, the STPM32, STPM33 and STPM34 ICs have been unveiled by STMicroelectronics. Meters which incorporate these devices will help utilities minimise revenue losses and ensure consistent billing by keeping the meter accuracy down to just a few milliamps - comparable to the current drawn by an LED television in standby.
Smart energy systems
Stefano Mantegazza, Head of Industry, Services, Energy and Retail, NTT DATA, looks into the future of smart energy and the use of new business models and new technologies.
“Small data versus big data” white paper released
GreenPeak Technologies has created a new white paper that details how Small Data, the tiny bits of information collected from billions of small sentrollers (sensors, controllers and actuators) in homes, offices, factories, cars, in all corners of the environment, will create a repository of information that will transform lives and generate entire new business sectors.
More intelligence through cross-vendor standardisation
Building automation must meet increasingly stricter demands as more and more disciplines need to be integrated into intelligent control systems. All the necessary technologies already exist. The real challenge today is to combine the partial solutions of different manufactures and various communication standards. An open network based on standards paves the way for "artificial intelligence".
DIN rail-mount smart meters for building automation
Housed in standard DIN rail-mount enclosures, the Din-Mon kWh/kW smart meters have been announced by E-Mon. The single- (Din-Mon D2) and dual-protocol (Din-Mon D5) meters enable advanced energy monitoring for building automation systems, switchgear, control panels, server racks, renewable energy systems and other space-constrained applications.
Customisable PLC module to create smart grid devices
Enabling customers to implement PLC technology in any design, Texas Instruments introduce what they claim to be one of the industry’s most flexible, robust and optimised power line communication (PLC) system-on-modules (SoM). This customisable field-tested PLC module is available with a variety of modifications, including SoM packages, form factors and interfaces.
Smart grid substation enables IEC 61850-compliant solutions
As a result of smart grid substation automation deployments adopting Ethernet-based industrial networking, TI have announced a low-cost substation automation solution in collaboration with Triangle MicroWorks.
Platform allows remote control of appliances
Featured at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, Haier's latest "Smart Living" appliances use Broadcom's WICED platform. Broadcom's Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded platform enables Haier's appliances to provide simple and seamless connectivity with a broad selection of mobile devices. This enables consumers to manage and control home appliances from anywhere in the world.
Industry-first Smart Home Gateway functionality at BBWF
Lantiq has today announced that the industry-first Smart Home Gateway functionality will be shown this week at the Broadband World Forum. At Booth G9, this will demonstrate interoperability between heterogeneous wireless Home Area Network technologies used to control switches, sensors and actuators from multiple suppliers. The demo is a collaboration of four organizations representing all links in the application value chain.
Taking remote control
How a practical mesh network solution can simplify home automation and energy management. Mike Paradis, Global Sales Manager for ANT Wireless, explores this in detail in this ES Design magazine article.