Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1522664
DATA AND DEVICES / TREND PAPER Smart IoT Applications and Environments: Key Antenna Considerations in Designing Your Smart Ecosystem PAGE 6 Challenges Solutions Interference congestion: Competition between wireless services creates interference and signal noise can block service, causing access points to compete for service Ensure clean, free-of-interference transmission Resilience and security requiring licensed frequency band certification Provide engineering support and expertise to deliver successful IoT design and certification support Physical construction material (metal/concrete can impede antenna signal) Deliver highly e€cient antennas, where signal performance is not significantly a‚ected by a building's construction material Inability of 5G to penetrate windows and walls from the outside Include micro cells and small cells to enable 5G performance inside buildings Very little high frequency background (RF) Implement the right antenna Situation: A real estate developer constructed a smart building in a major metropolitan area to enhance building management and provide tenant amenities. The building was designed to feature significant security and surveillance protocols, real-time energy reporting to lower costs and increase efficiency, and predictive maintenance models to avert problems and save costs. Floor plans included smart lighting, air quality monitoring and intelligent parking capabilities. Cybersecurity was also addressed as a paramount issue, since smart buildings are more exposed to the potential for cyber attacks. Antenna systems designed for various IoT applications in the building included: • MIMO antenna assemblies enabling high quality wireless servers to deliver uninterrupted extended range and seamless multi- user experiences, as well as bring cellular network service from outdoors to indoors • Embedded antennas to support smart indoor cameras and cloud-based automated access control systems, including customizable credential options such as a mobile app, personalized key cards, key fobs, and links sent to a mobile phone • 3D antenna assemblies to facilitate the real-time monitoring of electric, water and gas meters to lower energy costs, increase energy efficiency and secure energy supply, all while reducing carbon emissions • LPWAN antennas to allow for real-time cloud visualization to monitor and maintain a building from miles away, including real- time alerts and visuals • Robust onboard and 3D antennas to facilitate the bundling of various smart energy-saving technologies into hubs and group control functions for lighting, temperature, humidity, and other factors, with data sent to the cloud • Secure coding standards and penetration testing practices in cellular antennas to ensure they remain strong, and release software security updates to patch newly discovered vulnerabilities