The efforts of improving devices and machines are significantly transforming the whole world. Machine-to-Machine communication, along with IoT, holds promise in allowing us to get our days connected, automated and improved as far as government, business and private life are concerned. You’re surely asking yourself the question to know what is M2M technology. This article provides you with the answer.
Definition of M2M
Machine to machine (M2M) appears to be straight communication between devices that use communication channels, including wireless networks as well as wired. Machine to machine communication can to some extent take into account industrial instrumentation. In this sense, it allows not only machine sensors but also smart meters to exchange of data (e.g. temperature, stock level, etc.) with software. The combination of computing and telephony in M2M devices is due to the works of scientists such as Theodore Paraskevakos.
At the base, communication was made possible thanks to the support of a remote network of machines whose role is to relay information to a centre which analyses it before redirecting it to another system, in particular a personal computer.
M2M communications has recently undergone innovation, creating an intelligent network of things or systems in charge of transmitting data (such as caller ID) to personal devices, as you can read it on Matooma. The spread of IP networks over the globe has contribute to make M2M communications not only easier but also quicker even though they use less power. These networks allow as well suppliers and consumers to access new business opportunities.
How does M2M work?
M2M technology’s main purpose consists of taping in sensor data and thereafter transmit the latter to a network. Contrary to remote monitoring tools like SCADA, M2M systems most of the time use access methods and public networks.
The major components of machine to machine (m2m) system actually include sensors, a Wi-Fi, RFID as well as autonomic computing software finely programmed for allowing data management and interpretation by a network device to then make decisions.
Those M2M applications proceed with the translation of the data, which is capable to cause preprogrammed actions. Telemetry is one of the types of M2M communication the most well-known. It has started being used since the early 20th century to get big data transmitted.
Protagonists in telemetrics such as Theodore Paraskevakos, firstly made use of telephone lines before the radio waves, to make transmission of performance measurements they got from the monitoring instruments based in remote locations.
Internet of things (IoT) and enhanced standards of wireless technology has extended the telemetry’s role from engineering, manufacturing or pure and real science to everyday use through things like internet-connected devices, electric meters as well as heating units.
Beyond its capacity to remotely monitor systems and equipment, the main advantages of M2M and IoT display as it:
lowers prices by minimizing maintenance and downtime of equipment;
enhances revenue by finding out new opportunities of business for servicing products at the level of the field;
makes customer service better by proactively servicing and monitoring equipment solely at the moment it is needed or before it undergoes failure.
How does M2M affect our daily lives?
All around us, M2M connectivity technology is present. It’s in our offices, our homes, in the way that we entertain and exercise ourselves. These are some examples of machine to machine technology that might meet on a daily basis.
Commuting: when it happens that your train gets cancelled because of poor weather, the extra time that you’ll need to take another route will be determined by a smart alarm clock. The latter will also wake you up in the morning to prevent you from being late for work.
Health and fitness: mobile devices are able to track all the different steps you take during a daytime, proceed with the monitoring of your heart beat, before counting calories for determining dietary patterns. They can also work out if you’re in lack of vital nutrients.
Smart homes: a thermostat which is connected to the internet can automatically turn the heating on if room temperature is under a certain point. At home, you might have as well a remote-locking system that enables you to get the door opened to a visitor through your smart phone in case you’re not at home.
Shopping: according to your location, your personal data and previous shopping experiences, you can be provided with a voucher by your local supermarket for your preferred groceries at any moment you’re in the area. It can also be implemented in vending machine.
M2M in business
As far as business is concerned, considerable benefits are driven by M2M. Connected devices help collect information on all points of business, from product development to manufacturing and thereafter from supply chain to point of sale. The devices can help proceed with the identification and elimination of points of inefficiency. These are some examples:
Predictive maintenance: sensors at the level of your equipment order replacement components, detect faults and proceeds with the scheduling of repair, avoiding damage to the equipment.
Smart asset tracking: GPS capabilities and embedded sensors look after your assets. There is a fleet of delivery trucks which have the capacity to share their contents, location, as well as state of repair.
Product development: thanks to M2M technology, it’s possible for the product development to go further than a point of sale.
M2M in city infrastructure
Connected weather insights: part of the Weather Company solutions of IBM, the Personal Weather Station Network offers hyper local forecasts to thousands of people over the globe. Numerous sensors strive to detect temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, for helping communities and governments anticipate on enhancing weather conditions. Connected apartments: smart apartments capture data about which sections of an apartment are most often occupied, giving the possibility to detect in which place energy use can be lowered without affecting the apartment’s occupants.
Adaptive traffic management: it is possible for connected cars on the road to sense their location, understand proximity to other vehicles or obstacles, and share data concerning the parking spaces which are available along with traffic management teams and other vehicles. Sensor nodes positioned in parking spaces have the capacity to send data via the cloud to a real-time application at the level of drivers’ cars, allowing drivers to know in which place they can find easing congestions, available spaces, and save fuel as well as time.