'Sensors-in-a-box' a novel M2M solution

Test & Measurement

15 November 2006 Test & Measurement

Siemens' Wireless Modules division has announced an innovative product called the AyOne. This is a unique product with the company calling it a true multipurpose device that can be used in virtually any monitoring scenario.

The AyOne was designed as a device to open the possibilities of sensing the physical world.

This compact electronic watchdog is useful in a variety of ways. According to the company it can be used as: a baby monitor or alarm; a telephone for children; or as a fall detector for the elderly and handicapped. It is said to be sensitive enough to register even the tiniest irregularities, which it can then pass the information on in an SMS or a phone call.

In a box not bigger than a small cellphone, the AyOne contains sensors for: temperature; noise; brightness; motion detection (for anything moving near the box); egomotion (if the AyOne itself is moved). The number of applications are limited only to the types of sensors on-board. Siemens says that a range of external 'snap-on devices' will be made available such as a GPS, smoke detector, camera, additional battery and solar panel.

The AyOne is remotely configurable and controlled via SMS from a cellphone or via a web-interface. Different applications can be activated by rotating the front cover of the device, allowing up to four solutions to co-exist on the same box.

A number of applications have been developed, namely; Assetwatcher, Easy-Connect for seniors, Easy-Connect for kids and Car Guardian. Combined with GSM and GPRS networking capabilities of a wireless module, a simple user interface and a Java footprint, the company says that developers are able to easily build their own custom Ay applications.

Interestingly, the South African M2M development team at Siemens is actively involved in the evolution of the product, which was originally developed by Siemens PSE in Austria. As an end-to-end solution provider, Siemens M2M is able to deploy a hosted solution with modular feature set, that can be scaled, deployed and integrated into the end service providers' business at any stage.

For more information contact Christian Steyn, Siemens Components, +27 (0)11 545 2171.

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'Sensors-in-a-box' a novel M2M solution

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