Deciding which module to select for asset tracking starts with the attributes of the asset to be tracked. The tracking requirements of a very high value asset that moves internationally are very different to a relatively low value asset, the movements of which are confined to a single site such as a campus or port. It’s therefore important to recognize which tracking capabilities your use case needs and make your module selection based on those.
Tracking data itself is simple and makes relatively low connectivity demands. Simply communicating a current location gathered from a GPS receiver represents a tiny payload which even the lowest power cellular networks can easily handle. However, if any additional data is needed, the performance criteria can quickly change. For example, adding information about the condition of the asset, how it is being used, what temperature is being maintained and if maintenance is needed all add to the data to be transmitted.
Tracking factors beyond location
This additional data can help to reinforce the business case for asset tracking since additional data can add to the value derived from the same investment. In addition, some use cases depend on accurate location data in order to optimize how an asset is used or deployed. In other scenarios, such as lone worker safety, asset tracking connectivity is mission critical so uptime and security concerns must be considered. The business case also plays an important role is determining which wireless technology should be used in an asset tracking service.
For high value assets, their value justifies investment in the highest performance tracking options on the market. Satellite connectivity, allied to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) networks for accurate positioning, can ensure continuous tracking down to the centimeter level. If an asset needs to be tracked across the entire planet’s surface, for example, while on a ship at sea, satellite connectivity is an essential requirement of a module to be utilized for asset tracking.
For use cases such as cargo containers that contain sensitive materials such as medicines, tracking is needed at frequent intervals to assure loads haven’t been tampered with and that cold chain conditions are met. A high-value cargo such as this easily justifies the cost of a combined GNSS and cellular module.
Cellular and Wi-Fi options for asset tracking modules
For use cases that are exclusively on land and in populated, developed markets, cellular connectivity is typically used to track moving assets. Technologies such as LTE and Cat-M are widely used for moving objects such as vehicles and plant equipment that move between multiple locations. For assets that are typically confined to a single location but move within it, such as robots, AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and other machines, Wi-Fi connectivity is also widely used for asset tracking.
GNSS is still utilized for applications that demand highly accurate positioning and satellite connectivity is used to ensure coverage where cellular networks have not been deployed. This blend of cellular and satellite networks has the ability to support multinational and even global connectivity for assets that are deployed in different countries and regions. For objects that are deployed in areas of cellular coverage, popular cellular technologies are typically used for asset tracking thanks to their coverage and the market’s familiarity with these technologies.
In terms of module selection for asset tracking, the low-end of the market is composed of single-function modules that enable assets to be connected to Wi-Fi or lower end cellular networks. The next step are modules that combine Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities, often also including Bluetooth if required. Finally, users can cover all the bases with multi-functional modules that combine Wi-Fi, LTE or other cellular options, and GNSS.
Your decision process for selecting an asset tracking module should take in the use case, the deployment locations, the frequency of communications and data volume involved, the lifespan of the tracking device and the cost and security criteria of your project.
Source: Quectel blog
