Improve the power of Smart Maintenance with HART to LoRa

Maintenance optimization

Smart Maintenance, a term used to describe the trend to connect devices to the internet in order to optimize processes and to create value.

Internet connected products equipped with communication modules are able to send information directly to a web-based interface, and more important for Smart Maintenance, they inform you online about maintenance values. Automatic alarms concerning breakdowns is one of those important maintenance values. Connecting existing assets, in other words making them ‘Industry3.5-proof’, offers various options to optimize maintenance in an affordable way.

HART-to-LoRa

Let us take a closer look at the industrial HART protocol, a widespread protocol mainly used for process control in the ‘high-risk’ industry. Those ‘HART’ field devices are most often connected with Distributed Control Systems, so called DCS Systems.

To stay out of this ‘DCS System environment’, we started a process of developing a HART-to-LoRa module which allows us to query the status of a HART-protocol asset based on ‘commands’. This HART-to-LoRa development results in optimized maintenance thanks to insights in the condition and performance of machinery (from scheduled maintenance to preventive maintenance).

Network topologies

A mesh network is a network topology known for being a network in which each node relays data for the network. Your message kind of ‘hops’ from node to node before reaching an end-point. So, a continuous connection must be guaranteed for the message to reach its final destination.

One great thing about this HART-to-LoRa development is that it is based on LoRaWAN technology (a LoRaWAN network is laid out in a star topology) instead of a mesh network topology. A star network is a network where devices can be added without disturbing the network. In contrary to a mesh network, a failure of a single device in a star network won’t affect the network itself, there where this could be a problem in a mesh network. The LoRaWAN technology enables a battery powered, long range solution.

Value creation

We noticed a great market demand for retrofitting existing assets in an affordable way to unlock the hidden potential of data insights. The development of this Plug & Play HART-to-LoRa (Patent P.) device has been set up to easily integrate sensor data in the AKURU data platform using LoRaWAN technology.

Web-based services like the AKURU cloudplatform increase customer value since they allow customers to gain data insights in industrial equipment in an affordable way: the health status of a valve, positioners, temperature measurements, pressure measurements etc. Connected plants can detect early signs of problems and maximize machinery availability.

Digital’s disruptive power transforms the way industry functions. It is not just a buzzword anymore, but it unleashes enormous opportunities for value creation.

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