Our conversations with developers, engineers, and decision-makers spanned everything from industrial automation to smart agriculture. These discussions demonstrated a need for a simple connectivity solution and offered fresh insights into how Notecard and Notehub can solve real-world challenges. 

One of the highlights of the event was connecting with our partners. These relationships are key to our ecosystem approach, which allows us to focus on the connectivity challenge whilst others can support our customers deliver other aspects of a connected product.  

Discover the Blues Booth 

On the Blues booth, you could find live demos showcasing Notecard transmitting live temperature data of the exhibition hall in real-time, the Mojo’s power monitoring capabilities, and the Wireless for Arduino® Opta®.  

Mojo, short for more joules, is our latest product that works alongside Notecard to measure energy usage in a battery-powered system. The demo showed a dashboard that visualized the real-time power consumption of a Swan and Notecard throughout the event. 

Our Wireless for PLC demo showcased this expansion module for the Arduino® Opta® PLC. as the connectivity solution for an energy management system. This demonstrated how Wireless for PLC can enable remote commands, provide telemetry for solar panel energy usage, and automate appliance control based on real-time data which was displayed on the Arduino Cloud Dashboard—all made possible through seamless IoT connectivity 

Our final demo was delivered by our partners from PSA, who specialize in supporting companies in designing and developing connected products using Blues technologies. They delivered a live demo each day at 2pm which showcased multiple notecards and sensors in action alongside hardware from Toradex. 

Collaboration in Action 

Embedded World proved to be an invaluable opportunity for strengthening our network within the IoT ecosystem. Throughout the event, we met with established partners for discussions that reinforced existing collaborations and opened doors to new joint initiatives.  

We were particularly excited to connect with our newest partners at CELUS, experience a demo of their platform which can integrate Blues into your hardware schematics with ease, and get a preview into some of their latest features.  

These face-to-face interactions, impossible to replicate in virtual settings, allowed us to align roadmaps and brainstorm solutions to common challenges that will directly benefit our customers. The personal connections made at Embedded World remind us why in-person industry events remain essential for fostering the collaborative spirit that drives IoT innovation forward. 

Discussing the Future of Edge AI at IoT Stars 

On Tuesday evening, our team joined the IoT community at the industry’s premier networking event, IoT Stars. Brandon Satrom, Blues SVP of Product & Experience, took to the stage for a panel discussion on Edge AI, alongside leaders in the space from Edge Impulse and Arduino, under the moderation of the Edge AI Foundation. 

The conversation revealed insights into the current state of Edge AI adoption. As event organizer Laurens Slats summarized: “The Edge AI community is flourishing, with more developers than ever gaining access to free AI models. But the real bottleneck to adoption isn’t the models—it’s the quality of the data.” 

This discussion highlighted how the democratization of AI tools has shifted the focus from model availability to data quality challenges, a crucial consideration for organizations looking to implement effective Edge AI solutions. A conversation that continued throughout the evening of networking, and a few drinks together! 

The post Blues at Embedded World 2025: Connecting with the IoT Community appeared first on Blues.

Swing by Booth #10271 in the IoT Infrastructure Section, North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center. 

Meet the teams building with Blues 

Blues is proud to enable companies across all sectors, enabling them to create innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and accelerate traditional industries into the age of intelligent machines. Here’s a first look at a few  of the customers joining in on the fun this year at CES, and what we’ve built together.  

Clarios: Smart Energy for Smarter Vehicles 

Clarios, a leader in advanced battery technology, now offers real-time, cloud-based battery health monitoring to its fleet customers. Leveraging Blues and Snowflake, Clarios enables proactive maintenance to prevent battery failures, supporting the transition to smarter, more sustainable electric and hybrid vehicles.  

Learn how Clarios is revolutionizing battery management systems. 

Clean Earth Rovers: Protecting our Waterways 

The DataPod by Clean Earth Rovers is a compact, solar-powered water-quality monitoring buoy measuring key metrics like pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Integrated with Blues technology, DataPod ensures seamless data transmission, enabling real-time monitoring and actionable insights for healthier waterways. 

Explore how DataPod is advancing water quality monitoring. 

Droople: Intelligent Water Management 

Droople’s Water Intelligence Platform connects water assets to deliver real-time data on flow, pressure, and temperature. With its IoT-enabled AC Plug which can be retrofitted to any water point, and advanced analytics, Droople helps users optimize water use, reduce waste, and promote sustainable management. 

Discover Droople’s transformative water management solutions. 

Enable IoT: Smarter Farming with M30 

Enable IoT’s Sense M30 is a solar-powered soil monitoring sensor designed for precision agriculture. By capturing real-time data on soil health, it empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions that optimize productivity while promoting sustainable land management. 

Learn how Enable IoT is revolutionizing agriculture. 

Entek: Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future 

Entek’s Demand Response Transceiver optimizes energy consumption by enabling real-time control of appliances during peak demand. Integrated with Blues technology, it supports grid stability and sustainability efforts while reducing overall energy use. 

Explore Entek’s innovative energy solutions. 

Giraffe: Security at the Edge 

The Giraffe Edge Controller is an AI-powered platform for mobile security. Its advanced features, like Active Threat Deterrence, use real-time analytics to activate lights, strobes, and audio deterrents, ensuring rapid responses to threats. 

Discover the security revolution led by Giraffe. 

Halma: Adaptive IoT 

Halma’s air quality sensing prototype, powered by Blues, demonstrates modular connectivity across Cellular, WiFi, LoRa, and Satellite technologies. This innovation showcases the potential for versatile and scalable IoT solutions. 

Learn how Halma is solving connectivity challenges. 

Hummble: Noise Free for Better Living 

Hummble’s Heat Pump ANC technology brings peace to noisy living spaces with active noise-cancellation systems. Integrated with Blues technology, it ensures optimized performance and user comfort in residential environments. 

Discover Hummble’s approach to peaceful living. 

Lift AI: Smarter Elevator Management 

Lift AI’s Core Sensor uses onboard cellular communication to deliver real-time elevator performance data. This enhances maintenance efficiency and streamlines asset management, ensuring reliability for users and operators alike. 

Learn more about Lift AI’s smart innovations. 

Sirius NET: Sustainable Aquaculture 

Sirius NET’s Aquafarm Quality solution leverages AI and IoT to monitor aquaculture environments. By transmitting critical water-quality data through Blues, it promotes sustainable aquatic operations and robust yields. 

Explore Sirius NET’s Aquafarm Quality solution. 

True Manufacturing: Smart Refrigeration for Better Efficiency 

True Manufacturing integrates intelligent embedded systems into their refrigerators for real-time performance monitoring. With Blues technology, they ensure food safety, energy efficiency, and streamlined operations for their customers. 

Discover True Manufacturing’s intelligent appliances. 

A new path forward with Blues 

Making Blues a must-see stop on your CES 2025 itinerary?  Swing by booth #10271 in the IoT Infrastructure Section, North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center, and let’s  what we can build together. 

The post Your First Look at the Companies Pioneering Embedded Intelligence with Blues at CES 2025 appeared first on Blues.

The Blues Booth: Innovation on Display 

As gold sponsors, we wanted to deliver an immersive experience! Our booth showcased the complete range of Blues Notecards and Notecarriers, giving attendees a hands-on demonstration of our technology. Attendees were excited by our live demo measuring the air quality of the venue in real-time, visualized through a dashboard powered by our partner, Datacake. 

Introducing the New Notecard for LoRa 

We kicked the event off with the unveiling of the new Notecard for LoRa. This system-on-module device offers the same plug-and-play simplicity and m.2 connector as previous versions, but with castellated edges, making it easier for product developers to embed the Notecard directly onto their PCB for volume production. 

With Blues, your device is pre-registered with The Things Stack, reducing the complexity of connecting to The Things Network. Ready to experience it? Get your hands on a Blues Starter Kit for LoRaWAN® from our store here. 

Blues Wireless for Opta PLC: Expanding Possibilities Through Partnership 

Recently we launched the Wireless for PLC, an expansion module that adds cellular and Wi-FI connectivity to any Arduino® Opta® PLC. At our booth, we demonstrated this module in action, as the connectivity solution for an energy management system. This solution showcased how Wireless for PLC can enable remote commands, provide telemetry for solar panel energy usage, and automate appliance control based on real-time data which was displayed on the Arduino Cloud Dashboard—all made possible through seamless IoT connectivity. 

Learn more about this demo here. 

Insights from the Blues Team  

Our presence at the conference wasn’t just about showcasing products, Blues team members took to the stage to share their expertise on the evolving IoT landscape: 

• Brandon Satrom, SVP of Product and Experience, delivered his keynote ‘The Twelve Factor Thing’, a methodology for building next-gen managed edge devices. His presentation outlined twelve essential factors for developing connected products based on over a decade of IoT experience. Catch his full presentation here, or dive deeper at the companion site, 12factor.io. 

• Alistair Fulton, COO and VP of Ecosystems, discussed ‘How IoT Can Save the World’, an insightful presentation focused on how IoT can drive economic and environmental sustainability, helping us achieve more while reducing our ecological footprint. Watch his presentation here. 

• Rob Lauer, Senior Director of Developer Relations, led a workshop on developing for the Blues Notecard, guiding attendees through the process of building versatile, wirelessly connected products. Missed it? You can catch his ‘Getting Started with Wireless IoT’ tutorial here.

Hanging out with the Blues Team 

After a busy first day, we took a step back to hang out with our partners and customers on a scenic dinner cruise along the Amsterdam canals. The Things Conference does an incredible job of bringing together professionals from all corners of the IoT industry, and this cruise provided the perfect setting to connect outside the showroom and discuss the future of IoT. 

See You Next Year! 

Once again, Blues had an incredible time at The Things Conference, from unveiling the new Notecard for LoRa, to sharing insights on the future of IoT. The event provided a fantastic platform for engaging with industry leaders, and exploring innovation with our partners and customers. A big thank you to The Things Conference for hosting such a well-organized and inspiring event. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of IoT and can’t wait to see you there again next year! 

The post Blues at The Things Conference: A Recap appeared first on Blues.

VROEGH Design is a major player in the micro mobility industry, serving as an outsourced R&D department providing design and engineering support to a diverse array of products, including e-bikes, cargo bikes, and e-scooters.

Together with Blues, VROEGH is developing the future of transportation by embedding cloud-connectivity in micro mobility vehicles. VROEGH’s innovative micro mobility design will be showcased at Blues’ CES 2024 booth #10770, in the IoT Infrastructure section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Stop by our booth to discover how cloud-connected intelligence is reshaping everything from transportation to agricultural and industrial equipment and just about everything in between!

Creating the Future of Transportation

In 2014, VROEGH Design set out to reshape the micro mobility landscape. With a vision to blend innovation and practicality, they delved into the world of light electric vehicles, crafting solutions that promised to redefine urban mobility.

When Cleantron tapped VROEGH for help developing their Circular e-bike batteries, the company recognized the opportunity created by embedding a cloud-connected battery management system (BMS) into these batteries. However, they struggled to find the right technology to connect the battery to the cloud.

The integration needed to be as flexible as it was robust, adaptable to various e-bike models, and economical enough for broad implementation. This is the exact type of challenge Blues’ wireless cloud data pump was created to solve.

A Breakthrough in Micro Mobility Connectivity

VROEGH integrated Blues’ wireless cloud data pump into their battery’s design to build a revolutionary BMS.

They embedded the Notecard, a compact yet powerful connected system-on-module (SOM), into their battery by connecting it to a variety of components and sensors.

Now that the Notecard was capturing numerous data points about the battery’s condition, location, and performance, it began to relay this data to the cloud through Notehub, Blues’ cloud orchestration layer. This implementation enabled real-time battery management and monitoring while delivering an unparalleled rider experience.

Harnessing the Power of Cloud-Connected Experiences

The integration of these technologies into e-bike batteries comes with benefits for both the bike brand and its customers:

• • Improved Real-time Monitoring: Batteries can now communicate critical data in real-time. They relay information integral to keeping the e-bikes safe and running, including battery health, temperature, voltage, current, and state of charge.
• • Enhanced Battery Performance: The continuous data collection helps optimize the battery performance, ensuring longer life and better sustainability while giving the manufacturer insight into how they can improve future designs.
• • Superior Manufacturer Experience: The integration allows end users and manufacturers to track and manage the battery’s performance more effectively, enhancing reliability and usability.
• • Scalability and Ease of Use: Blues’ wireless cloud data pump’s plug-and-play functionality allows businesses to develop innovative cloud-connected applications in months, not years.
• • Proactive Vehicle Maintenance: The integration notably enhances end-user engagement, enabling them to monitor and maintain their e-bike batteries proactively. Proactive monitoring allows users to identify and address potential battery issues early, effectively preventing wear and extending the battery’s operational lifespan.
• • Misuse Detection: A notable feature of the integration is the ability to detect and report potential misuse of the batteries. This safeguard protects the batteries from premature degradation and catastrophic failures that could lead to fires, injuries, and lawsuits.
• • Sustainability Boost: The project contributes to sustainability efforts in the micro mobility sector by improving battery lifespan and usage. Longer-lasting batteries mean reduced waste and a smaller environmental footprint.

Visit Blues and VROEGH Design at CES 2024

The development of this BMS is the beginning of a unique partnership between Blues and VROEGH Design that will tremendously impact micro mobility and beyond.

As Bob Vroegh, Head of VROEGH Design, put it…

“I would love a bike to be able to send a message to the owner — Hey, we sense that your ebike motor has more resistance than we would expect. Let’s go to our service mechanic at [address] for a check. He is available at [option A,B,C]. IoT and Blues can make that happen.”

Discover firsthand how the partnership between VROEGH Design and Blues catalyzes a transformative wave in the micro mobility landscape by visiting us at CES 2024!

At our booth, you’ll find products designed by VROEGH on display, a host of Blues products showcased, two interactive demos, nineteen products built with Blues from just about every industry, and, of course, the famous Blues Café serving complimentary espresso, coffee, and water.

If you’re attending CES 2024, stop by booth #10770 in the IoT Infrastructure Section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Ready to transform your products today?

Visit Blues for more information or talk to one of our experts.

Learn more about VROEGH Design and its pioneering work in the field by visiting VROEGH Design.

The post CES 2024: Reshaping Micro Mobility with VROEGH Design and Blues appeared first on Blues.

Geocene, a trailblazer in low-power connected devices, is dedicated to developing robust sensors to solve some of the most challenging problems faced around the world. At the heart of their success is a partnership with Blues, a collaboration that allows their sensors to thrive in environments where other technologies falter.

 The capabilities of Geocene and Blues’ partnership will be showcased at our CES booth, #10770, in the IoT Infrastructure section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stop by to see the next generation of cloud-connected sensors. 

Wireless Innovation for Ocean Data

Geocene, born out of Danny Wilson’s PhD research at UC Berkeley, specializes in developing versatile IoT data-logging sensors. Its mission: democratize IoT technology by making wireless sensor deployment and data analysis accessible to all. Geocene’s innovative sensors have proved crucial in challenging environments.  

Geocene first engaged Blues when they were implementing cellular connectivity for Sofar Ocean’s Spotter platform. The platform collects surface and subsurface data, such as wave spectra, wind, pressure, and temperature, and transmits it in real-time from anywhere in the ocean.

The Spotter platform’s historical reliance on satellite connectivity to send observations, however, created unnecessary cost and bandwidth limitations for some users, particularly those with devices moored just offshore. In these areas, having a reliable cellular service makes satellite connectivity redundant.  

Geocene found a powerful solution when they reached out to Blues and learned about our plug-and-play global connectivity capability. In just a few months, Geocene successfully integrated Blues’ wireless cloud data pump into the Spotter platform.

The pre-provisioned Notecard integrated seamlessly with the Spotter platform’s existing hardware and software, resulting in reliable cellular connectivity in record time. Today, the Spotter platform outperforms competitors by offering more frequent data sampling, global cellular connectivity, and secure data transmission at a lower cost than other devices that rely solely on satellites.

Ongoing Connectivity, Efficiency, and Reliability

The integration of Notecard and Notehub into Geocene’s products marked a turning point in the company’s ability to tackle complex connectivity challenges.  

Take, for example, Wedgworth’s IoT-connected fertilizer trailer sensor, the BrewBot. Geocene developed the BrewBot sensor system for their Killebrew fertilizer trailers. This sensor detects when bins are emptied, prompting timely trailer pickups. 

By integrating Blues, the BrewBot now streamlines the process of trailer pickups, with an estimated operational efficiency improvement of up to 20%. This enhancement aims to optimize logistics and translate into considerable financial benefits for Wedgworth. 

“Honestly, it is the best experience I have ever had working with any group,” —Patrick, Engineer, Wedgworth. 

Today, Geocene partners with Blues for all the ​cellular solutions they build for clients. They enjoy: 

• Global connectivity: The Notecard’s ability to support a spectrum of radio access technologies ensures Geocene’s sensors can be deployed in a wide-range of environments.
• Developer-centric ecosystem: Blues’ focus on creating a developer-friendly environment resonated with Geocene’s ethos. The simplicity and flexibility of the Notecard and Notehub allowed Geocene to focus on application-specific challenges instead of wireless connectivity. 
• Data management and security: With Notehub’s robust data routing to the cloud and scalable remote management capabilities, Geocene’s solutions can efficiently process large volumes of sensor-generated data. 
• Scalability and flexibility: The modular nature of Notecard and the comprehensive service offerings of Notehub provided Geocene with the scalability needed for its diverse range of projects. 

Visit Us at CES to Create a More Connected World

The partnership between Geocene and Blues has reshaped data collection in challenging environments and transformed how companies like Sofar Ocean and Wedgworth operate. Geocene has delivered innovative IoT applications that significantly improve operational efficiency and data management by leveraging Blues’ wireless cloud data pump – resulting in more bottom-line revenue for Geocene and its clients.  

“Since working on Sofar, Geocene has continued to build successful cellular solutions in partnership with Blues,” —Danny Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO, Geocene. 

Discover the future of wireless connectivity with Blues at CES 2024. 

 Visit Blues and Geocene at booth #10770 in the IoT Infrastructure Section, within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at CES 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with our experts, explore what’s possible with Blues, and take the first step towards transforming your products into data-driven intelligent services. 

Ready to transform your products today? 

 Talk to one of Blues’ experts. 

Reach out to Geocene to learn about their innovative solutions and global impact. 

The post Showcasing Geocene and Blues’ Partnership at CES 2024 appeared first on Blues.

“What if we had a bunch of our partners and customers join us in our booth?”

Yes! We all agreed this was the perfect way to make Cellular IoT more tangible. Rather than holding up a 30×35 mm System-on-Module and asking people to imagine the infinite possibilities of cloud connectivity, we could point to the visionaries and innovators who had imagined the possibilities and made them reality.

So, as Blues exhibited at the event for the first time, we were joined by an entourage of 11 customers and partners, with everyone showing off their IoT products and telling their stories in an interactive showcase for attendees.

An Interactive Display of IoT Product Development

Guiding visitors through the components and finished products, the booth was organized with Blues products on one side, and products built using Blues products on the other. As one attendee wrote on LinkedIn following the event, it was “Blues with Harmony.”

The goal of this was to help those seeking solutions for IoT product development understand two things:

1. Cellular cloud connectivity doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive
2. The applications of the Blues Notecard are endless

In 600 square feet of exhibit space, you could tour products from industrial IoT (IIoT) to healthcare technology to consumer electronics to municipal waste solutions – and even get a caffeine buzz at Blues Café, where a barista was slinging lattes.

The following companies were our CES companions at booth #10752 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Their stories and products are all equally impressive and solve unique challenges across industries, and we were lucky enough to get interviews with these innovation leaders to get their insight on product development and specific challenges facing their industries.

We asked them to give us a brief introduction to their company, and here’s what they had to say:

Agilix Health

Agilix Health is redefining the model and delivering improved quality of care for cancer patients through remote health monitoring systems. By connecting to the cloud via a cellular model, the device provides a holistic view on the health of cancer patients between appointments and allows providers to mitigate side effects of treatment.

American Crane & Equipment Corporation

For more than 50 years, American Crane & Equipment Corporation has been a trusted innovator of high-quality specialty lifting equipment. As a leading manufacturer of cranes, hoists, and other material handling equipment, along with a variety of parts and components for standard, custom, and nuclear applications, we’re committed to high quality products and customer satisfaction in an industry where there is no room for mistakes.

At American Crane, GRIT Matters: we put perseverance, heart, and integrity into everything we do. That is the core of our culture, and it’s the foundation for the values that drive us to put our people first and delight our customers with the high-quality solutions that make their lives easier.

Brickeye

Brickeye is a leader in Industrial IoT and Data Analytics for risk mitigation in construction and infrastructure management. We empower customers to build and manage their projects safer, smarter, and better. By integrating actionable, real-time data from IoT-enabled sensors and predictive analytics, we enable customers to take immediate action and make better decisions that reduce risk, enhance resiliency, and drive improved performance across their projects and operational assets.

EnTek Systems

EnTek Systems is a leading provider of Electric Utility Demand Response and Building Automation products. We have over 50 years of experience in these markets and provide products with the latest in cellular technologies and highly advanced control algorithms. Our products are used Worldwide to aid Electric Utilities in protecting the grid from localized overloads, allow enhanced opportunities to cell excess power on the grid, and flatten the load curve thus lowering energy costs.

Watch the interview with Entek President, Jean Dillard as she talks about using Blues to provide two-way communication for electric utilities – and shares the piece of advice she would give herself if she could go back in time:

Evexia Telehealth

Evexia’s mission is to remotely monitor and engage isolated patients to reduce their risk of health complications.

• It is for addressing the deficiency of a healthcare system that financially rewards cures vs prevention.
• It is for those left behind by technology, financial limitations, and those in areas prone and now subject to natural disasters: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Native American lands, rural and inner cities.
• It is for the greater good of communities and those that need it the most.
• It is a solution that makes sense for governments, NGOs and philanthropists to adopt as it is the simplest to use, and therefore has the lowest possible cost to support.  It works worldwide in any language, as is.

Evexia’s mission is to lower the overall cost of caring for isolated communities with chronic diseases.

And yes, it will work for your grandmother too.

Watch the interview with Evexia’s Founder, Francois Kouthchouk:

Ovyl and Upperline Health

Ovyl helps product businesses break into hardware with a defensible edge. By understanding and solving your business needs and your customer’s needs, we help you deliver devices that delight your customers. Our values-driven team is fully in-house, co-located, and multi-disciplinary to support the fastest and most innovative environment possible for your business.

Upperline Health offers comprehensive treatment of lower extremity injuries and conditions. Their wearable remote patient monitoring solution helps providers proactively treat diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients prior to issues becoming severe and difficult to treat. By providing ongoing monitoring and support, they are addressing complications caused by one of the most common health conditions in the United States.

Prodigy

At Prodigy, we’re more than a product design and development firm—we use the power of client collaboration to bring groundbreaking products to market, faster. By establishing deep working relationships with our clients and drawing on our broad bench of specialized expertise, we are able to create great products more quickly—products that give our customers a competitive advantage. We are proud to deliver one of the industry’s most exceptional client experiences. And we have a strong reputation for creativity and speed. That’s why over 97 percent of our clients return to us again and again.

The result? We have created billions of dollars of value for our clients.  Deep collaboration, speed and our track record of delivering exceptional bottom-line results—these qualities define us and set Prodigy apart.

Here’s what VP of Product Development David Mackenzie had to say about bringing IoT products to life with Blues:

Pulsar Labs

As you build your first IoT product, there are many “firsts”: first prototype, first design, first certification, first customer, first production run, first volume deployment. Each step brings exciting opportunities, also new challenges. Pulsar is helping you build the FIRST.  We specialize in enabling an IoT company to grow from seed stage to series C.  We have helped dozens of IoT companies grow, even becoming a fast-moving unicorn.

Rezzi

Rezzi is focused on building products to fundamentally change the way that waste is collected. At Rezzi, we dream of a future where waste collection is more efficient, transparent, and most importantly – sustainable. In order to address this, we have built SmartCan, a product that addresses one of the main concerns in the waste collection industry – the lack of accurate and actionable data.

SmartCan provides waste haulers and their customers with accurate waste generation data, allowing them to better manage their waste collection programs. Rezzi is a team obsessed with trash and supporting the waste collection industry.

True Manufacturing

Building A Better Tomorrow: At True, we are not only interested in a leadership role in the commercial refrigeration industry, but also as a leader and model in efficient, responsible manufacturing worldwide. This includes reducing our carbon footprint and being committed to responsible and sustainable manufacturing. True is proud to have pioneered R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant. Hydrocarbons have no ozone depleting properties and are over 1300 times better for the environment than HFC refrigerants. True is committed to our green promise as well as continuing to make your world cooler.

Velvetwire

Velvetwire is on a mission to help global enterprises protect their high value assets (such as vaccines) by providing data-driven visibility across their manufacturing, asset tracking, and logistics activities.

Here’s what Velvetwire’s CEO Eric Bodnar had to say about the ease and efficiency of working with Blues:

Solving Global Challenges with Smart Products

What Blues is doing is more than about technology, it’s really about people. Technology helps us better understand the state of the environment and help one another. Our customers and partners rely on us to keep their devices connected, so they can provide healthcare to underserved populations, improve municipal waste collection, reduce environmental impact, digitally transform small and midsized businesses, and so much more. Together we’ll continue to address global challenges with Cellular IoT.

Want to learn more about our customers and partners using Blues to disrupt their industries with Cellular IoT? Read a selection of Blues customer stories.

The post Blues at CES: Solving Global Challenges with Cellular IoT appeared first on Blues.

Who could be a better parter with a contest like this than our friends at Edge Impulse, the leading developer platform for ML on embedded devices! Enter “Build a Smarter World”.

Fast forward a few months (and many Hackster projects later) and I’m proud to announce our contest winners!

Be sure to check out all of the amazing projects on both the Blues Wireless and Edge Impulse Hackster pages!

 1st Place Overall

Appliances Identifier Smart Energy Meter

Our pick for the very best project comes from Christopher, who built a project that measures voltage, current, power, power factor, and energy from a variety of devices. Then, after building the ML model with Edge Impulse, the device determines which appliance is connected. Using the Blues Wireless Notecard and Notehub, a cloud-based dashboard is populated (with Ubidots) for monitoring.

 2nd Place Overall

IoT AI-assisted Deep Algae Bloom Detector w/ Blues Wireless

A close 2nd place comes from Kutluhan, who took a variety of images of deep algae blooms with a borescope, collected water quality data, trained an ML model with Edge Impulse, and relayed results to the cloud (and WhatsApp) via the Blues Wireless Notecard.

 3rd Place Overall

Smart Helmet powered by Blues Wireless Notecard

3rd place comes from Sobhit and Pratyush, who focused their efforts on safety: specifically by building a “smart” helmet that can determine if a motorcycle/scooter rider was in an accident. Not only that, but it can relay an SMS alert (with GPS location) using the Notecard and Notehub.

Be sure to watch their amazing video content in this project (especially the demonstration of the device in action):

 Honorable Mention: Most Creative Use of ML

Old MacDonald had a FARM, and became a safer driver

Our first honorable mention goes out to what we thought was a very creative use of Machine Learning. Justin built a Machine Learning model that learned how to identify a person, whether or not they are wearing a seatbelt, if they are traveling at a safe speed, if alcohol is detected in the car, and are they driving aggressively (e.g. hard acceleration and/or braking).

 Honorable Mention: Most Creative Use of Cellular IoT

Pothole Detection with Blues Wireless and Edge Impulse

Our other honorable mention is awarded to Michael and Gina for their engaging (and useful!) project that can detect potholes in the street (while driving). Even better, it can report the GPS coordinates of the potholes for future reference and repair.

 Honorable Mention: Most Views on Hackster

IoT AI-assisted Deep Algae Bloom Detector w/ Blues Wireless

The project that gathered the most views on Hackster (in the first month after publication) goes to our 2nd place winner, Kutluhan, with 1,567 views (and counting!).

Thanks!

A big thanks goes out to everyone who participated in the contest (your Blues Wireless and Edge Impulse swag packs are coming soon!).

For everyone else, stay on top of the latest in IoT news via the monthly Blues Wireless newsletter, grab your own starter kit, and join our community forum!

The post “Build a Smarter World” Contest Winners appeared first on Blues.

The Prodigy team recently joined Blues at CES. We sat down with David to hear about the CES experience, talk about IoT product development, and the power of collaboration to drive better results and increase project ROI.

Can you tell us a little bit about Prodigy?

The company started 36 years ago as ITE (Integrated Technologies Engineering), but we now operate as Prodigy. We launched our rebrand as Prodigy at the CES show, where we exhibited with Blues.

We are a Product Development firm that designs products for and with our customers. Our team is made up of Electrical (Firmware and Hardware), Software, Systems and Mechanical Engineers along with PMP-Certified Project and Program Managers.

But we’re more than a product design and development firm—we use the power of client and partner collaboration to bring groundbreaking products to market, faster. By establishing deep working relationships with our clients and drawing on our broad bench of specialized expertise, we quickly create products that give our customers a competitive advantage.

As a development company, it is our clients’ requirements that lead to the creation of a product. We do inspire them, though, by showing them what other clients have done.

Prodigy exhibited with Blues at CES. How was your experience?

Prodigy could not have had a better CES show! Having Blues host us in your booth with other partners created a unique environment for attendees. Lots of other booths just showed off their latest tech, but Blues invested a great deal in demonstrating how your technology is practically used, and — importantly for us — how to take an innovative product idea and bring it to life through the product development process.

The results of being hosted in the Blues booth has been immediately positive.  We already have meetings scheduled with innovative companies looking to bring their Blues-infused products to market.  We also got to meet other potential technology partners.

Were there any surprising or inspiring moments at CES?

A great surprise and inspiration was getting to meet Dr. Ray Ozzie!  As a former Lotus Notes fanboy, it was awesome.  He took the time to meet each vendor and understand what was being showcased. Prodigy actually used two of our co-ops’ (Ryan Logsdon and Cory Gish) Senior Capstone Project from the University of Cincinnati to show the power of the Blues Notecard and how it can be used as a gateway to data immersion and exploration in the metaverse.  Ryan actually showed me one of his computer science textbooks that mentioned Ray while he was literally standing 4 feet from us and thanking all of us partners!

What are you most proud of?

We are proud to deliver one of the industry’s most exceptional client experiences, and we’re proud of our strong reputation for creativity and speed. For example, Prodigy provides a low-cost, 30-day IoT pilot that proves a real ROI. Overall, we have created billions of dollars in value for our clients. Deep collaboration, speed, and our track record of delivering exceptional bottom-line results are the qualities define us and set Prodigy apart. That’s why over 97% of our clients return to us again and again!

Let’s talk about your customers. Who are they? What are their biggest challenges when it comes to IoT product development?

Our customers range from smaller/mid-size companies to the Fortune 100. They are innovators in the medical, consumer, commercial, capital equipment, industrial, and military spaces, all of which benefit immensely from IoT technologies. Most of our clients would describe their business challenge as the continual need to provide innovative and competitive products to their customers that generate a profit. We work with clients all over the globe who are faced with getting innovative products to market in a timely and cost-effective manner while minimizing risk.

But IoT product development is not simple – often, our clients do not have enough expertise internally to develop some aspect of a product. There are so many existing products that could benefit greatly from the infusion of IoT technology, but there are many technical problems to solve.

Prodigy helps solve IoT challenges in many ways, and we have a program that gets customers up and running with a fully functional IoT pilot in less than 30 days. Technology like the Blues Notecard are technically sound and cost effective. It can be integrated into almost any product/pilot and later scaled for production.  Production is important to note in this post-pandemic environment.  The Notecard is not only a great IoT element, it is AVAILABLE when needed to get products in customers hands.

What kind of products do you develop with your clients?

Our innovations include everything from a child’s sippy cup to advanced surgical robotic devices. We often integrate advanced technologies into products, like the Blues Notecard, making them smart and connected.

Can you talk about any specific products or client success stories?

Inspired by driving his Tesla electric vehicle, the owner of Cold Jet — the pioneer and global leader in dry ice blasting technology — challenged his firm to design and build a modern ice blaster that was both robust and functional.

Cold Jet envisioned an aesthetically pleasing design that included:

(1) new functionality;

(2) global Industrial IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) cloud connectivity and data analysis, and

(3) a Digital HMI (Human Machine Interface) that offers, amongst other things, the ability to save settings and to improve the overall user experience.

To assist with this product development strategy, Prodigy’s electrical engineering and project management teams worked with Cold Jet’s mechanical engineers to design a new and revised dry ice blaster machine in alignment with this vision. Cold Jet achieved clear ROIs from the product development strategy, which completely modernized and redesigned its flagship dry ice blaster machine.

Since the launch of the initial machine, Cold Jet has sold thousands of units. Customers have also reported the benefits of using new product features — like the settings recipe function, global IIoT connectivity, predictive analytics to prevent machine downtime, remote management of machines, and improved user experience via the modern Digital HMI.

What are some unique challenges you face in your role as a product designer and developer?

Product Development is all about navigating risks and challenges. One challenge is developing a clear ROI before putting pencil to paper. We apply our experience in created connected products to help clients develop a meaningful ROI.

Our biggest pain points are global connectivity, data plan cost, and supply-chain gaps (product availability). During the global supply shortage, availability of the devices is a huge factor. We are constantly seeking out solutions that are affordable, consistently available, and scalable. When we find solution providers that meet these needs, we stay with them. That’s why Prodigy has worked with Blues since Blues launched.

What do you enjoy about working with Blues?

When I first heard about Blues, I thought it looked compelling due to global coverage and the cost-effective data plan. On top of that, another solution provider had months of depleted inventory while Blues had hardware available. The Blues Notecard allows Prodigy to quickly integrate a cellular IoT modem into both a pilot and a production solution. It is robust, straightforward to program, and offers a great cloud-based console to manage a fleet and integrate data into other cloud services.

Blues is a fantastic partner. They are responsive and are there to support us, and more importantly, our customers at every step of their journey to bring innovative products to market. It is truly a delight to work with them! Pavan, for example, is a pleasure to work with and partner with!

Prodigy will continue to bring bold ideas to life through our partnership with our customers and our partnerships with best-in-class technology providers like Blues!

What’s next for Prodigy?

For the last 36 years, we have been ITE (Integrated Technologies Engineering). When we began there was no Internet, now we’re developing IoT devices. To enable innovative solutions, we must be relentless in seeking out and leveraging the best new technologies to exceed our customers’ expectations. We look forward to the next stage of our journey as Prodigy and as a premier Product Development Partner of Blues!

Are you an IoT product development firm interested in becoming a Blues partner? Learn more about the Blues Partner Program.

The post Prodigy’s David Mackenzie Shares His Insights on CES, IoT Product Development, and Why Collaboration Leads to Success appeared first on Blues.

But also to fail miserably at word-find team-building activities:

Recently the Developer Experience and Cloud Services teams of Blues Wireless met up in Boston to recap, review, and set the stage for 2023. We also hosted a one-day internal hackathon to see what sorts of connected projects we could build in a single day.

While it’s one thing to hear the joys and pains that customers tell us about, it’s another thing to experience those joys and pains yourself – especially in a time-constrained hackathon setting!

The Hackathon Projects

Teams of 2-4 built nine amazing projects using the Swan MCU, Notecard, and Notecarrier in creative ways (with a surprising number using Edge Impulse to integrate Machine Learning capabilities).

And those projects?

1. A Machine Learning-based fall detection and alerting system (inspired by this Hackster project).

2.  A bee hive temperature and humidity monitoring/reporting system.

3. A “jump-scare” spider, using a gesture recognition ML model to trigger the spider:

4.  “Portals” that send low-res images to each other over cellular (alas without GLaDOS).

5.  A Machine Learning-based person counter for walkways and trails.

6.  The world’s slowest guillotine (also using a gesture recognition ML model):

7.  A system to track patients who may walk off unbeknownst to their care providers.

8.  A project that can detect woodpeckers before they start damaging your house.

9.  A high-powered ML-based face detection system powered by the Jetson Nano.

These projects also inspired another “jump-scare” skeleton tutorial on Hackster. Just in time to scare your neighborhood kids on Halloween! 

Look like fun? Blues Wireless is growing and hiring!

Happy Hack-o-ween! 

The post Hack-o-ween with Blues appeared first on Blues.