Machines are abuzz with chatter amongst themselves these days. Machine to machine (M2M) solutions continue to evolve in new and exciting ways, and as such there is plenty of news being generated in the industry. Let’s take a moment to look back on a few of this week’s M2M news highlights.
The relationship between M2M and wearable technology has always been apparent—your smartphone talks to you smartwatch, your wireless health monitor talks to your doctor’s computer, and so on. This concept of connected sensor technology is growing by the minute, and one such example is the Heart & Respiration in-Car Embedded Nonobtrusive (Harken) sensor system. The Harken system is being put into cars as a means to reduce the number of accidents caused by driver fatigue, which while not as prevalent as drunk or distracted driving, is still a part of the overall equation. But what the Harken system, and those like it, really underscores is the distinct possibility of using sensors in the environment, and not just for wearable devices.
Also this week, it was announced that 500 of Decker Truckline’s refrigerated tracker trailers will soon be equipped with ORBCOMM’s tracking and monitoring solution to help improve the way the transportation company manages its fleet. ORBCOMM will provide its RT6000+ technology—a powerful two-way cold chain telematics device with comprehensive temperature, fuel management, maintenance, and logistical applications services—for Decker’s refrigerated trucks, as well as an efficient Web application with data reporting and analytics capabilities to increase in-transit visibility, thereby easing the maintenance of refrigerated transport operations. Decker will fully integrate the trailer data with its back-office platform to gain significant fuel savings, optimize temperature compliance, prevent unauthorized usage, and reduce maintenance costs.
With any new and developing technology there are bound to be those who will take advantage of early loopholes, and M2M technology is no exception. Virtually every motor vehicle on today's roadways uses some form of remote keyless entry to unlock the doors of the car, for example, and this wireless communication could prove convenient for carjackers and thieves, who—with the right equipment—could remotely unlock the doors too. Such a security loophole was recently discovered by Silvio Cesare, an Australian researcher who works for the Qualys security firm. With a set of equipment that cost him just over $1,000, Cesare was able to create a device that would try to duplicate the key remote's signal in order to gain access to his own car, without even leaving a physical trace.
While there are still security issues to be hammered out, wireless M2M technology is offering new and exciting things, such as the concept of wireless charging stations for devices. One company, known as uBeam, is taking this idea by its horns, discovering that it is become possible for energy to be treated almost like Wi-Fi, sent throughout a room to be accessed by devices as needed. The uBeam charging stations are just five millimeters thick, and can be attached to walls or simply put on tables. From there, a thin receiver can be attached to a user's device of choice, and the device can receive the energy beamed out in the form of sound. The uBeam product line is expected to hit shelves in the next two years, and will essentially come in two sizes: a smaller, home-based version, and a larger version for offices and similar large venues.
This is just a small sampling of all the news coming from the M2M space this week. Be sure to check back regularly to M2M Evolution for all the latest happenings, and for a look at what’s going on in the industry now—and what to expect in the near future—check out M2M Evolution Conference and Expo, taking place August 11-14 in Las Vegas.
