New Tech Europe | Jan 2017 | Digital Edition

IoT Special Edition

DK low energy IoT trends

Josh Mickolio, Digi-Key Corporation

Abstract This article looks at developments in low power for the Internet of Things, particularly the Thread consortium low power extensions for IOT smart energy and other competing consortia. Low Power IoT trends Smart energy is becoming an increasingly important and competitive capability in the Internet of Things. The ability to run a sensor node for months or even years rather than weeks is driving chips and system developers to look at new ways of deploying vast networks of devices. The latest innovation has emerged from a consortium of companies that calls itself the Thread Group and is looking to roll out Thread, a new IP- based wireless networking protocol designed for low-power connected products in the home. The Thread protocol was founded by 7 industry-

leading companies, including Nest, a California startup that developed a smart thermostat and networked smoke detector. Nest is now owned by Google, and the Thread Group also includes processor core designer ARM, low power chip specialist Silicon Labs, Samsung Electronics, Freescale Semiconductor, Big Ass Fans and lock maker Yale Security. ARM dominates the space for wireless controllers from a wide range of chip suppliers, so is an important partner for Thread. Makers of air conditioning systems and locks are part of the consortium as these are the end products that will be controlled across the Internet. Thread technology is based on 6LoWPAN, which uses the 802.15.4 2.4GHz wireless protocol that is also used by ZigBee, although the two are different. 6LoWPAN is specifically designed to support the larger IPv6 address space that is needed for IoT

with a low power, low data rate network running at up to 250kbit/s. The low energy comes partly from avoiding the 'hub and spoke' model where all the nodes have to connect to a hub. Being able to directly interact with devices – over 250 – and over the Internet can reduce the power requirements. Thread offers a robust self-healing mesh networks that scale to hundreds of devices with no single point of failure. This reduces power as there is less need to retransmit packets. The Thread devices will also be simple to install with a smartphone, tablet or computer so that consumers can securely connect Thread devices in the home to each other and to the cloud for easy control and access from anywhere. Existing wireless networking approaches were introduced long before the Internet of Things gained ground, says Vint Cerf, vice president

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