Whitepaper March Reference Design: Faster Time to Market for Robust, Responsive Internet of Things Devices

Transcription

1 Whitepaper March 2018 Reference Design: Faster Time to Market for Robust, Responsive Internet of Things Devices

2 Reference Design: Faster Time to Market for Robust, Responsive Internet of Things Devices A 2011 survey 1 of design engineers found that reference designs were the most difficult part to find and aggregate out of 13 tools identified as essential to the design process. In recent years, reference designs, sometimes called technical blueprints, have become more readily available, as equipment manufacturers, product designers and others continually look for ways to accelerate time to market for new products. Reference design is a complete package of hardware, software, development-and-test tools, and recommendations and guidelines to help device makers conceive, design, prototype and produce in scale a specified commercial product in a shortened timeframe, leveraging a strong expert knowledge base. But for Internet of Things (IoT) companies and device makers, this package really makes sense and brings value for a customer only if it efficiently covers integration of special and complex features like security layers, protocol stacks, radio performances and optimization choices, and power-consumption management and reduction. Kerlink Reference Design Added Value Framework Kerlink s Reference Design overlays chipmakers LPWA platforms that deliver hardware design for device makers using a LoRa chip. This reference design is compatible with existing LoRa network infrastructures and can be used to conceive any type of LoRaWAN TM end-devices. From that starting point, Kerlink Reference Design brings to developers and device designers a full range of extra modular software packages, for a variety of IoT differentiating capabilities an evolutive range of compatible tasks. These include: Microcontrollers (real-time operating system, bootloader secure booting, to ensure that firmware is valid and trusted, and for firmware updates, to boot new firmware after over-the-air updates) Peripherals (radio, sensors, communication bus) Security (secure element for full compatibility with trusted key management) Services (power management, logger, scheduler) Sensors (accelerometers, inclinometers and other sensors to monitor humidity and temperature Kerlink s low-power IoT reference design also prioritizes critical steps for IoT products, such as radio certification, CE/FCC/ETSI certifications, running tests in real operating conditions to calibrate sensors and actuators, and guidelines to design production test benches for ongoing manufacturing quality testing. Kerlink Reference Design is a complete package of hardware, software, development-and-test tools, recommendations and guidelines to help device makers conceive, design, prototype and produce in scale a specified commercial product in a shortened timeframe. Beyond that, Kerlink s Reference Design contains a list of recommended electronics components or bill of material, an electronics blue print, examples of applications, network stacks (such as the latest LoRaWAN TM stack and its update when necessary), 1 Design-with-Efficiency: Toward a Streamlined Process for Electronics-Industry Design Engineers, Technology Forecasters Inc. 2

3 End-to-end operational design environment Kerlink s off-the-shelf low-power IoT reference design is a starter package mixing hardware and software, which supports functional developments out-of-the-box. It also includes building, flashing, testing and debugging tools, so developers can set up the end-to-end operational design environment in few minutes. Other features include: A full set of documentation that allows fast designer onboarding and quick hands-on developer packages and tools A certification-ready reference design (electronic blueprint) to embed various capabilities and features, and to reduce certification timelines and costs, leveraging LoRaWAN TM ecosystem knowledge LPWA network-ready for plug-and-play deployment on network operators Benchmark reference in terms of features, e.g. state to the art LoRaWAN TM stack Design recommendations for smooth integration with other key management tools, such as over-theair end-device remote management Optimized design for improved LoRaWAN TM network-based native geolocation. a benchmark device and a developer test board (to quickly compare prototype performances with achievable levels). Development tools and expert guidelines also are included. The software is industrial-grade, modular and specially configured to ensure components low-power consumption to deliver the benefit of the LoRaWAN TM LPWA protocol. For example, this feature can manage the switch on/off of the component at the best time and for the best timeslot length to maximize energy saving. In addition, the software offers the latest compatibility with standards like regularly published LoRaWAN TM specifications. The platform also allows designers to select, combine and immediately test the needed modules of codes. Advantages for OEM Customers Kerlink s platform targets on the one hand OEMs, device designers, electronic device makers and widely used B2B applications like metering, tracking, asset monitoring, connected homes and industrial efficiency, and on the other hand, in the B2C space, products whose functionalities could be enriched with LPWA connectivity like Internet boxes and routers. Mr. Oliver McCarthy, general manager of Tekelek, a leading developer and manufacturer of telemetry products and solutions for gas tank suppliers and other companies, says Kerlink s reference design dramatically shortened time to market for the company s new remote-monitoring devices, and significantly reduced development costs and the number of personnel needed to develop its new sensors. Prior to adopting the Kerlink low-power IoT reference design, a key business challenge for Tekelek had been convincing customers of the value of investing in cellular technology to monitor their equipment, which typically is spread over wide areas, McCarthy said. The quick and economical production of customized monitoring equipment and the rapid rollout of IoT networks has enabled our larger customers to deploy telemetry on a large scale. These deployments are part of the evolution in remote telemetry applications. 3

4 Prior to adopting the Kerlink low-power IoT reference design, a key business challenge for Tekelek had been convincing customers of the value of investing in cellular technology to monitor their equipment. In addition to simplifying and accelerating time to market from concept to finished product, Kerlink s off-the-shelf low-power IoT reference design and production-ready bills of material help ensure design robustness, reliability and flexibility over time to support evolving capabilities. In some cases, development time can be cut by more than six months and overall costs by up to 30 percent. Mr. Oliver McCarthy General Manager, Tekelek Focus on Core Expertise Rather than Connectivity Nonetheless, some OEMs may think a complete Reference Design package or reliance on Reference Design for some products does not suit them. But consider a connected battery-powered end-device for the IoT. Which portion of the system does the company design in-house and which does it develop A Kerlink low-power IoT reference design and production-ready bills of material can cut solution development time by more than six months and overall costs by up to 30 percent. with off-the-shelf reference design? Designing and building the entire system assures the OEM has complete control and maximum design flexibility. But accurately anticipating the required effort and estimating the total cost of development to meet a demanding product-launch schedule can be a challenge. Other risks of going it alone include: Design risk: putting a poorly designed product on the market not only raises customer-support costs, but also weakens customer satisfaction and brand quality perception. Project cost increases: underestimating long-term sustaining costs and delays in conception, design, test, validation, certification and evolution. Lack of relevant hardware, software and radio expertise: this impacts technical decisions to maximize radio performance, security, sensor integration, energy consumption optimization, antenna selection, embedded connectivity design and flexible modularity, potentially resulting in a poor end-user experience when using the device. Lack of knowledge for specification compliance and certification (CE, FCC, ETSI, IEEE, LoRa Alliance TM ) that might generate extra delay or costs Teams cannot keep pace with evolving norms and standards, such as for LoRaWAN TM specification, device management latest practices and firmware updates. Potentially facing loss of fallback control if the customer distributes faulty firmware intended to ensure service continuity and solution integrity. This could lead to a total disconnection of the device, requiring on-the-spot physical intervention to replace or reconfigure the device, Missing automated industrial-grade testing processes to ensure that ruggedized codes are provided and ease the process flow for quality control at the end of the manufacturing process. IoT devices must be delivered at the right time to maximize their differentiating service concept, to support disruptive business models or improve customer experience. Once the goal is identified, the challenge is to make sure that internal resources will be able to meet that deadline, and support design 4

5 of the best solution. OEMs might be best served by focusing on their core expertise, e.g. designing the best global end-user experience, rather than on connectivity. Outsourcing that key part of the total solution improves the odds of success and reduces development costs. The Licensing Model Kerlink s licensing model includes a set-up price for access to the complete reference design package and a license fee for each unit sold, a flexibility that adapts to each user s business situation. It assures a well-defined cost structure (opex) compared to investment (capex), which is difficult to assess and anticipate, especially if new expertise is needed and the design project is starting from scratch. The onetime cost per device, which includes a fixed license or revenue-sharing rate based on the end-consumer sales price, positions the Reference Design as part of the product cost structure for better planning and cost management. In summary, Kerlink s low-power IoT reference design allows its customers to quickly bring to market IoTready devices and innovative business models to monetize their networks. It allows: Targeted final vertical application design and scoping, core values of OEMs and device designers. Hardware integration with the selection of electronics components, the right sensors, the PCB creation and the electronics design blue print. This process is shortened with bill-of-material references, electronics plans and hardware design guidelines. Faster software integration with pre-written application code, software packages and drivers. This process is made easier with available modular sets of code, allowing designers to choose the ones they need for the design they want, depending on the capabilities of the end-device they want to create and the type of sensors they want to embed. Prototype test on the evaluation board and instant comparison with the benchmark device provided, reflecting best implementation of proposed hardware and software references. Prototype field tests and validation / certification to ensure end-to-end operations. Mass production with production engineering and test benches to grant quality for each end-device produced and its perfect conformity to the initial design. Expert support all the way for fast integration and ad-hoc design extensions, depending on the creativity of the device designers or the business owners. Forecasts for the number of connected IoT devices vary widely, as do projections of IoT turnover. But they agree on this much: growth will be significant. In December, an IDC forecast 2 said worldwide spending on the IoT will total $772.5 billion in IoT hardware will be the largest technology category in 2018 with $239 billion going largely toward modules and sensors, the report said. Such high expectations put pressure on OEMs to bring equipment to market quickly so users can begin to put the IoT to work with confidence in a healthy return on investment (RoI). Reference design should be part of the OEM toolbox. 2 IDC Forecasts Worldwide Spending on the Internet of Things to Reach $772 Billion in

6 About Kerlink Group Kerlink Group is a global leading provider of end-to-end network solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), serving telecom operators, businesses and public authorities worldwide. Its growing suite of turnkey IoT services includes network planning, design and operational management that maximize performance of its market-leading, carrier-grade infrastructure offering. The Group, widely recognized for its IoT expertise, also continually introduces innovative value-added services, such as network-based geolocation, remote end-device management and low-power IoT reference design, which allow its customers to quickly bring to market IoT-ready devices and to imagine innovative business models to monetize their deployments. In just over 10 years, more than 100,000 Kerlink installations have been deployed in more than 69 countries. In 2017 Kerlink supplied more than 330 customers, including major telecom operators such as Tata Communications, and service providers such as GrDF and Suez. The company s solutions are enabling IoT networks worldwide with major deployments in Europe, South Asia, South America and Oceania. Kerlink, a co-founder and board member of the LoRa Alliance TM, has invested more than 10 million in research in the past three years. In 2017, Kerlink Group generated revenues of nearly 25 million, more than 50 percent internationally. Since 2013, it has posted average annual growth of more than 62 percent. It has been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since May 2016 and was added to the EnterNext PEA-PME 150, an index of 150 fast-growing French SMEs, in Kerlink SA, 2018 Version 2.0 KERLINK CONTACT@KERLINK.COM