Understanding Location Technologies for IoT

When it comes to knowing “where in the world” your devices are, manufacturers aren’t settling for just one answer to the question. Here are three options for determining device location:

• GPS/GNSS: Provides global coverage with high accuracy in outdoor environments
• Cell Tower Triangulation: Works by measuring signals from multiple cellular towers
• WiFi Triangulation: Uses nearby WiFi access points to calculate position

Each approach has distinct advantages and limitations that make them better suited for different use cases and environments.

GPS/GNSS: Global Satellite Positioning

GPS (Global Positioning System) and other GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) determine location by measuring the time it takes for signals to travel from multiple satellites to the receiver:

• The device receives signals from four or more orbiting satellites
• Each satellite transmits its precise location and the exact time the signal was sent
• The receiver calculates the distance to each satellite based on signal travel time
• The device’s position is determined by triangulating these distances

This approach provides global coverage and works without relying on local infrastructure, making it ideal for outdoor tracking applications, despite limitations requiring line of site to satellites.

Cell Tower Triangulation: Leveraging Cellular Networks

Cell tower triangulation uses data from multiple cellular towers to pinpoint a device’s location:

• The device connects to or detects signals from nearby cell towers
• Signal strength and tower location data are collected
• Algorithms process this information to calculate the device’s position
• The estimated location is derived from the intersection points of coverage areas

While a single tower connection can provide rough location data that can be accurate within several hundred meters, connecting to multiple towers significantly improves accuracy, offering the potential to estimate device location within tens of meters.

WiFi Triangulation: Precision for Indoor Environments

WiFi triangulation is similar to cell tower triangulation but works by leveraging WiFi access points:

• The device scans for nearby WiFi access points
• Information about visible access points (SSID, MAC address, signal strength) is collected
• This data is cross-referenced against databases of known WiFi locations
• A precise location estimate is calculated based on this information

WiFi triangulation often delivers superior accuracy in urban and indoor environments and can easily achieve accuracy within a few meters. This makes it particularly valuable for indoor asset tracking.

The Business Value of Multi-Technology Asset Tracking

Why settle for just one tracking technology? Modern IoT deployments benefit from having multiple location-determining technologies available. Implementing a flexible location tracking approach offers several advantages:

• Improved Reliability – By combining multiple location technologies, devices can be located from open outdoor spaces to building interiors and urban canyons, ensuring continuous visibility.
• Optimized Power Management – Different location technologies can be selected based on power availability and accuracy requirements:
• GPS for high-precision outdoor tracking when power is available
• WiFi triangulation for indoor tracking with minimal power consumption
• Cell tower triangulation as a reliable backup when other methods aren’t available
• Extended Device Lifespan – Selecting location technology based on environment and power constraints can significantly extend battery life and reducing maintenance costs.

Blues Notecard: Simplifying Location Tracking

Blues Notecard is designed to make wireless connectivity for embedded devices as simple as plug-and-play. Cellular Notecards come with GPS tracking as standard and, depending on which connectivity solution you choose for your device, offers a combination of triangulation technologies.

Notecard Cell+WiFi gives you a seamless way to do all three, GPS tracking, WiFi triangulation, and cell-tower triangulation, in a highly customizable way. And Notecard’s backing cloud service, Notehub, intelligently selects the “best” location from all available options; making it easy to keep track of where your devices are at all times. Whether your assets move through dense urban centers or remote areas with spotty coverage, this hybrid technology ensures continuous location visibility across all deployment scenarios.

Real-World Location Tracking Applications

Wondering how you could use location tracking to enhance your operation? Here are a few of the ways you could utilize Notecards’ built-in features:

Supply Chain & Logistics

Track shipments through warehouses, distribution centers, and retail locations where GPS signals are unavailable. With triangulation, companies gain end-to-end visibility into their supply chains, including indoor locations traditionally considered “blind spots.”

Industrial Equipment Monitoring

Monitor the location and usage of valuable equipment inside factories and warehouses without installing dedicated positioning infrastructure. The low-power requirements make tracking assets for years without battery replacement possible.

Smart Cities & Urban Monitoring

Deploy sensors throughout urban environments to monitor air quality, noise levels, traffic patterns, and more, all with precise location data even in challenging signal environments between tall buildings.

Healthcare Asset Management

Track critical medical equipment throughout healthcare facilities, ensuring that life-saving devices can be quickly located while reducing equipment loss.

The future of Location Tracking

As IoT deployments expand into increasingly challenging environments, having multiple location technologies available ensures continuous device visibility across all scenarios. By leveraging GPS, cellular, and WiFi triangulation as complementary technologies, solutions like the Blues Notecard enable comprehensive asset tracking with optimal power consumption and accuracy for each environment.

Whether you’re tracking assets through supply chains, monitoring equipment in industrial facilities, or deploying smart city sensors, the flexibility to choose the right location technology for each situation provides the reliability and accuracy your IoT applications demand, in any environment.

Are you ready to implement intelligent location tracking in your IoT solution? Notecard offers a plug-and-play approach that simplifies development while providing the security, reliability, and power efficiency required for real-world IoT deployments. Get in touch to hear more.

Additional Resources

• Get started with a Cell+WiFi Dev Kit 
• Download the guide to learn more about industrial equipment monitoring 
• Try an example app for continuous asset tracking 

The post Beyond GPS: Leveraging Cell + WiFi Triangulation for Precise IoT Location Tracking appeared first on Blues.

But this journey has its fair share of potholes and detours. Even as cities worldwide pour billions into smart infrastructure, IoT manufacturers face some real speed bumps that can trip up even the most brilliant innovations. 

In this article, we’re rolling up our sleeves to tackle four common roadblocks you might hit when developing embedded intelligence for smart cities, from integrating with decades-old infrastructure to keeping up with the regulatory rulebook.  

Whether you’re crafting environmental sensors, traffic systems, or devices to keep our communities safer, understanding these challenges now will help you build solutions that cities actually need and citizens genuinely appreciate. 

Just getting started with smart city IoT? We’ve got your back – check out our comprehensive white paper, “Navigating Smart City Development: A Roadmap for IoT Manufacturers” 

Challenge 1: When old meets new, tackling aging infrastructure 

City infrastructure is like the foundation of your house; if it’s not solid, nothing else matters. The challenge? Most of our urban systems weren’t designed with the internet age in mind. We’re talking water pipes installed when your grandparents were kids and power grids from the era of black-and-white TV. 

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the infrastructure investment gap is projected to reach $3.7 trillion over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, city operations teams are already overwhelmed maintaining these aging systems. Most major metropolitan areas struggle with replacing antiquated infrastructure, such as underground wiring, steam pipes, and transportation tunnels, while also trying to install high-speed internet capabilities needed for smart applications. 

This is where you come in. As manufacturers, the ball is in your court to create smart solutions that play well with these legacy systems. Your products need to either work alongside what’s already there (because let’s be real, few cities can afford to start from scratch) or deliver such compelling ROI that investing in new systems becomes a no-brainer. The most successful smart city implementations take the first approach – thoughtfully adding sensor layers and connectivity to existing infrastructure rather than demanding complete overhauls. 

Challenge 2: Speaking the same language, interoperability and standardization 

As the urban IoT landscape expands, you’re navigating a world where proprietary systems and competing communication protocols can turn your groundbreaking product into an isolated island. 

The stakes go beyond technical headaches; manufacturers who can’t create flexible, standards-friendly devices risk missing the smart city wave entirely. Success today demands more than engineering cutting-edge tech; it requires building products that can communicate across diverse platforms, integrate with multiple systems, and adapt as standards evolve. 

Think of it like building with LEGO blocks rather than creating a sculpture. The magic happens when your pieces connect easily with others to create something bigger than what any single manufacturer could build alone. 

Challenge 3: The ever-shifting regulatory landscape 

If there’s one thing we know about regulations, it’s that they’re always changing. And when you’re developing connected products for cities, that reality can stretch your development timeline like silly putty. Cities need solutions built to last, but none of us have a crystal ball for what compliance will look like five years down the road. 

As embedded intelligence spreads globally, you face regional regulations covering everything from cybersecurity to data privacy, interoperability, and environmental impact. And this isn’t just about meeting technical specifications. Companies must invest real time and resources in understanding and implementing compliance measures that can vary dramatically across different markets. 

Take the guidance from the U.S Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the EU’s Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2), which brings in strict reporting requirements and transparency standards that mandate significant organizational adjustments. These regulatory puzzles don’t just add to development costs, they can create real barriers to market entry, especially if you’re a smaller manufacturer with limited compliance resources. 

The takeaway? Compliance can’t be an afterthought anymore. It needs to be baked into your product design from day one. This means embedding security, privacy, and sustainability from the earliest sketches, while maintaining the flexibility to pivot as regulations evolve across your target markets. 

Challenge 4: Winning the trust of the people who matter most 

Our cities are becoming more connected through sensors and monitoring systems, and the folks who live there are becoming increasingly cautious about how their data is being collected and used. Research shows that privacy concerns grow in direct proportion to the number of IoT devices cities deploy, with citizens demanding clarity about data security and protection of their personal information. 

 Building trust isn’t optional; it’s essential. This means weaving robust security into your products from the design phase, not bolting it on later when problems arise. Smart city IoT manufacturers need to implement end-to-end encryption, secure authentication protocols, and regular security updates that don’t leave users vulnerable. 

Just as important is creating straightforward, accessible data policies that give citizens visibility and control over their information. No one likes feeling like they’re being watched without consent. 

By making security and transparency top priorities, you position yourself as a trusted partner for both cities and the people who call them home. This not only speeds up adoption but sets you apart from competitors who treat privacy as an afterthought. In the long run, the manufacturers who respect citizen concerns will be the ones who thrive in the smart city space. 

Your role in making cities smarter (and better) 

When you create innovative, connected solutions that tackle real urban challenges, you’re not just growing your business, you’re making life better for millions of city dwellers. Your product will succeed largely based on how well it works within the constraints we’ve talked about while still delivering capabilities that transform urban living. It’s about building tech that solves problems people actually have, not just adding connectivity for connectivity’s sake. 

Ready to dig deeper? Our guide “Navigating Smart City Development: A Roadmap for IoT Manufacturers” explores these challenges in greater detail and provides practical strategies for overcoming them. Download it today to discover how you can create resilient, interoperable smart city solutions that deliver lasting value in our increasingly connected urban future. 

Additional Resources 

• From One-Time Sales to Ongoing Success: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Equipment-as-a-Service 
• Fueling the Future of AI with Optimized Data Streams 
• Discover How to Accelerating Product Development with Blues Partners 

The post Navigating the Challenges of Smart City IoT: What Manufacturers Need to Know appeared first on Blues.

So how can HVAC and heat pump manufacturers adapt to meet these evolving demands? In this article, we explore how making the shift to smart HVAC and heat pump units can provide a competitive edge and secure your business’s future success. 

The Evolving Landscape of the HVAC and Heat Pump industry  

The HVAC and heat pump industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Gone are the days when conventional, inefficient units sufficed. Today’s market dynamics are forcing manufacturers to do their part to create a more sustainable world. 

Modern consumers are no longer satisfied with basic functionalities; they demand adaptive, energy-efficient systems that integrate seamlessly into their digital lives. Energy efficiency has shifted from a perk to a prerequisite, driven by escalating energy costs and growing environmental consciousness.

In a world of smart homes, consumers expect HVAC and heat pump systems to offer  remote control, real-time alerts, and compatibility with other smart devices. Manufacturers clinging to outdated methods risk being left behind. Those who adapt to these evolving demands, however, position themselves as industry pioneers prepared to guide the sector into its next chapter. 

Why Going Smart is the Competitive Edge Manufacturers Need 

For HVAC and heat pump manufacturers, the way to future-proof their business is clear — integrate data-driven embedded intelligence into their appliances. Here are four reasons why embracing the smart route can elevate a manufacturer’s market position: 

• Operational intelligence: Modern HVAC and heat pump systems equipped with sensors and real-time data analysis capabilities can automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions. For instance, a system can adjust its output based on current room occupancy or the outside temperature, ensuring optimal performance and user comfort. 

• Proactive maintenance features: One of the standout features of smart systems is their ability to foresee potential issues. By analyzing data trends and system performance, they can predict when a component might fail or when maintenance is due. This not only extends the product’s lifespan but also saves consumers from unexpected repair costs. 

• Empowering consumers with control: The modern consumer wants to be in the driver’s seat. Integrating user-friendly interfaces and remote management features allows manufacturers to offer products that allow users to control their HVAC and heat pump systems from anywhere, set schedules, and even integrate with other smart home devices. This degree of control and customization is a significant selling point.

• Optimized energy efficiency: As concerns about the environment and energy costs grow, energy efficiency becomes a priority for consumers. Smart HVAC and heat pump systems are designed to operate at peak efficiency, adjusting in real time to minimize energy waste. This resonates with environmentally conscious consumers and also promises tangible savings on energy bills for your customers. 

Incorporating these smart features is about anticipating the future. As technology continues to advance, the gap between traditional and smart systems will widen. Manufacturers that invest in smart technologies now will be better positioned to lead the industry tomorrow. 

The Business Case for Smart HVAC and Heat Pump Systems 

In manufacturing, decisions are often driven by concrete figures and a clear return on investment (ROI). As the allure of smart HVAC and heat pump systems becomes evident, it’s essential to understand the tangible business benefits of this transition. Beyond meeting immediate market demands, integrating smart technologies is a strategic move to future-proof your business in a rapidly evolving industry. 

Reducing warranty claims: Smart systems, with predictive maintenance capabilities, can significantly reduce component failures and unforeseen system breakdowns. This translates to fewer warranty claims, which directly impacts a manufacturer’s bottom line by reducing the costs associated with replacements and repairs. 

Building brand trust: Offering cutting-edge, energy-efficient, and reliable products naturally boosts a brand’s reputation. Consumers tend to gravitate towards manufacturers they perceive as forward-thinking and committed to delivering the best possible solutions. This brand trust is invaluable in fostering loyalty and securing repeat business. 

Catering to a broader market segment: As homeowners and businesses increasingly prioritize sustainability and tech integration, manufacturers with smart offerings can tap into this growing segment. Additionally, by aligning products with current market trends, manufacturers can ensure their offerings remain relevant and in demand. 

Higher product margins: Premium features command premium pricing. Smart systems, given their advanced capabilities, can be positioned at a higher price point, leading to improved profit margins. Furthermore, as the demand for these systems grows, economies of scale can further boost profitability. 

Industry leadership: Manufacturers that embrace smart technologies set new industry standards. By pushing the boundaries of what HVAC and heat pump systems can achieve, these manufacturers position themselves at the forefront of the industry. This leadership status leads to increased market share and long-term profitability.  

A New Era of Intelligent Climate Control  

As consumer demand shifts towards intelligent, energy-efficient, and interconnected systems, manufacturers must adapt to stay relevant and competitive. 

Early adoption in this transformative phase is a market imperative. Those who move swiftly to integrate smart technologies into their product lines will position themselves as industry frontrunners, capturing a larger market share and future-proofing their business models with a competitive edge. 

Embracing this change is not a journey manufacturers have to embark on alone. With Blues, manufacturers gain a robust ally, ensuring a smooth, cost-effective transition into the future of smart HVAC and heat pump systems.  

Additional Resources 

• Download our guide to building a connected HVAC and Heat Pump System 

• Learn how wireless harmonization makes it effortless to connect your products to the cloud 

• Using IIoT to navigate the next industrial revolution 

The post Future-Proofing HVAC and Heat Pump Manufacturing: The Shift to Smart Systems appeared first on Blues.

The words “asset tracking” typically bring to mind moving dots on a map: cars, trucks, planes, and the like. Things that are supposed to move.

But think about things that shouldn’t move, things that, if they are on the move, means something is amiss: historical statues, expensive environmental monitors, high value equipment in storage, or even (believe it or not) beehives.

In this Hackster project, I built a Blues Wireless Notecard-powered anti-theft tracker that integrates with Twilio to send SMS alerts to a user’s phone when motion is detected, complete with last known location coordinates and a simple Google Maps URL link.

At a high level, here’s how it works:

• The ultra-low-power cellular Notecard (a mere ~8uA when idle) is configured to act as a GPS device, and only begin taking location readings when motion is detected.
• When it’s in motion, it begins taking GPS tagged readings every minute and sending them as JSON data to Notehub – a thin cloud service that securely accepts data from the Notecard.
• Notehub immediately transforms the raw JSON with the help of JSONata into a payload of relevant info for Twilio, and routes this data on.
• Finally, Twilio forwards this data along to the user’s phone and they receive an alert like the screenshot below, with a clickable Google Maps link. Hopefully speeding up recovery of whatever’s gone missing.

To see how I built this, view the full tutorial on Hackster, where I detail exactly how to set up the hardware and software that made this anti-theft and recovery device possible.

The post Anti-Theft GPS Tracker and Recovery System appeared first on Blues.

And today we’re announcing a new feature for all Airnote owners: an updated dashboard for quickly and easily viewing device readings.

For some background, the Airnote can measure weather metrics like air temperature and humidity, but also less common metrics, like the level of air pollutants you can’t see, such as PM2.5 and PM10.

With this dashboard update we’re giving Airnote users the ability to see this data, and to interpret it as well. For example, is your air quality good, moderate, or something you should be concerned about?

Knowing your air quality at a glance can help you make real-world decisions, like deciding if today is a good day for a long run, or determining if a nearby wildfire is affecting your area.

And because the Airnote is cellular connected and solar powered, you can find these answers for yourself in minutes with virtually zero setup—just plug in your Airnote and scan its QR code to see data right in your browser.

Trying the new dashboard

The new dashboard is available immediately for all Airnote users, and you can access it by scanning your Airnote’s QR code, and then clicking the dashboard link (shown below).

The Safecast-provided dashboard you might be familiar with is still available, and helpful for viewing device data over time. You can access it using the dashboard’s “View full data” link as shown below.

Get started

So what are you waiting for? Scan your Airnote’s QR code, try the new dashboard out, and let us know what you think.

And if you don’t have an Airnote, there’s never been a better time to get one and join the Airnote community! We’re just getting started

The post Announcing a New Dashboard for the Airnote appeared first on Blues.

We don’t think about it a lot, but safeguarding the public from crimes, disasters, and other potential dangers and threats permeates our society in a variety of ways. Be it police forces, fire services, the DOT, EMS, and others, the primary goal of public safety professionals is to prevent danger and protect the wellbeing of citizens, communities, and organizations, and perform that role to the best of their abilities.

I attended the FDIC International Conference in Indianapolis last April to engage with the Fire Rescue industry and learn about upcoming changes to industry technology. At the conference, there were more than 800 companies that chose to showcase their products or services, and from this event, there were multiple Public Safety Case Studies that could benefit from IoT technology. Let’s break down the top three IoT Public Safety Use Cases from this year’s FDIC International Conference.

Air Quality and Hazardous Gas Monitoring

At the FDIC Conference this year, there were several workshops and discussions revolving around air quality, hazardous gas monitoring, and ambient air monitoring. Companies within this industry are just starting to incorporate IoT in many of their products, and there’s a lot of excitement around moving into a space where they do real-time monitoring.

This was an area I was also excited about, as Blues Wireless has both products and customers for real time air quality monitoring. Plus. Blues Wireless has technology to build products that work with systems that companies in this industry already have. The ability to build a prototype quickly on the Blues platform, and then also scale it efficiently on the same platform, provides the foundation to create strong internet and connective capabilities. Blues Wireless has worked for many years to make the process as seamless and as connected as possible, so it is more convenient for the hardware engineer.

With this connectivity, individuals create systems that detect and monitor air quality, hazardous gas, and even ambient air. Blues Wireless offers a high level of out of the box functionality for connectivity, helping to trim time and risk from the hardware device development timeline.

Asset Tracking for Public Safety

Asset Tracking is one of the most important fundamental systems that individual companies within the Fire and Safety industry use on a regular basis. It is important to know where high value assets are at all times. First responder vehicles are mobile and can break down. Expensive equipment may have been borrowed and not in its regular place. Not having visibility into the specific location of your assets is a huge problem creating inefficiencies or even safety hazards.

Blues Wireless is one of the companies working to help companies have greater accessibility to asset tracking systems. Using a cellular network package and allowing a significant amount of data, asset trackers have more capabilities and end up saving more time and money on their processes.

Companies connect their IoT capabilities over the cellular network to monitor and track assets. Data is transferred with the Blues Wireless Notecard and easily delivered to the customer’s cloud of choice. Security is a key feature for the Blues Wireless Notecard. With an integrated STSAFE Secure Element with hardware crypto, true hardware random number generator, and a factory-installed ECC P-384 certificate provisioned at chip manufacture, the Notecard takes security to heart.

In addition, all transactions between the Notecard and Notehub.io utilize encrypted “off the Internet” communication protocols with VPN tunneling from cellular provider direct to cloud.

Predictive Maintenance for Public Safety

Predictive Maintenance, like remote/condition monitoring, is a strategy companies employ to monitor equipment and ensure that everything operates at an optimal level. Again, not the first thing you may think of when it comes to public safety, but if an ambulance service doesn’t know a vehicle has a faulty water pump and sends it out to respond to an emergency, there is a chance that ambulance doesn’t make it to its destination. Ambulances offer critical services delivered in an urgent manner, so equipment issues causing delays are disruptive to the chain of care. Further, if an ambulance isn’t roadworthy, it must be removed from service until the issue is addressed, affecting equipment capacity and utilization rates. Predictive maintenance is an underutilized tool and exciting space for IoT technology to grow so that industries in the realm of public safety support their community and perform optimally.

Companies that employ predictive maintenance will get more uptime from their equipment. As high-quality data on asset performance in the field increases, stakeholders make better decisions and allocate time and resources to the highest priority items. The cost of asset trackers decreases yearly and is no longer just for high-value assets, thanks in part to market changes like the Blues Wireless Notecard for only $49. Blues Wireless allows complete connectivity for predictive maintenance and remote condition monitoring, so companies take proactive action on potential issues versus the typical and suboptimal reactive posture.

Conclusion

These are just three use cases from the FDIC Conference offering to exponentially change your business capabilities. If you find yourself in need of these technologies, reach out to our team of experts to discover how Blues Wireless simplifies business and creates more streamlined development for your systems.

You’ll create seamless communications with the Blues Wireless Cellular System-on-a-module for IoT connectivity. You’ll minimize hardware device development costs and risk because of the out-of-the-box connectivity. Plus, there is less surface area for cybercriminals or accidental data leakage because of the built-in encryption, security, and encrypted data transmission from sensor to cloud.

Once you have the Notecard in your possession, you’ll go from unboxing to sending arbitrary data over the AT&T cellular network in about 30 minutes.. Our quickstart will show you the full capabilities of your new secure technology. To connect directly with me, Raghu Balijepalli, feel free to message me on LinkedIn, connect, ask questions, and see how Blues Wireless improves your business. I hope to meet you at an upcoming event this year.

The post The Top 3 IoT Use Cases For Public Safety At The 2021 FDIC Conference appeared first on Blues.