Wifi Revolution

Hitachi (News - Alert) Plant Technologies has announced ZigNET-TAGMO, a wireless sensor targeted for broad range of commercial and industrial applications that uses ubiquitous, installed Wi-Fi infrastructure. Based upon low-power Wi-Fi semiconductor and software provided by GainSpan, this solution allows easy integration and deployment of Wi-Fi sensor network within an enterprise.

 

The company chose to use the highly optimized Wi-Fi SoC from Gainspan as it enables a long battery life while using existing Wireless LAN (WLAN) access points (AP) and IP (Internet Protocol) networking, noted Tsutomu Ito, senior manager, Hitachi Plant Technologies.

 

This allows Hitachi’s sensors and tags to be used in the field for many years while simplifying deployment and integration with the enterprise networks.

 

ZigNET-TAGMO supports multiple sensors enabling a broad range of applications. The company explains its use in the food management industry where logistical traceability of food substances is extremely important. Upon entering an area covered by WLAN AP, the sensor transmits the data back to a food company’s servers for analysis, where information that can highlight potentially serious issues, can be diagnosed early.

 

Vijay Parmer, GainSpan president and CEO claims that through the use of widely available Wi-Fi networks, the deployment of these sensor networks can be achieved on a world-wide level quicker and at a lower cost than through any other technology currently available on the market.

 

Hitachi Plant Technologies’ new sensor module is also helpful in asset tracking and logistics applications. Once the ZigNET-TAGMO is installed on the target object, information about the environment during transportation such as temperature and humidity can be measured and transmitted via WLAN. The obtained information is stored in built-in memory if WLAN AP is not available, said the company.

 

Company officials further explain that the accumulated data is transmitted at once when the object enters the area covered by a WLAN AP again. ZigNET-TAGMO can also issue an alarm signal if the value measured by sensor exceeds the predetermined value.

 

In spite of using a small battery, Zignet-TAGMO has the ability to achieve a battery life of up to five years thanks to the adoption of GainSpan's ultra low-power technology. The company will make available complete system solutions including various sensor options and application software within next several months.

 

 

Back to WiFi Revolution home