u-blox announced Monday SARA-S200, one of its small modules for the Machine Network, based on RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access), a low-power wide-area (LPWA) technology. The Machine Network is a wireless network built by Ingenu, the creators of RPMA technology, exclusively for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Operating in the globally license-free 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band, RPMA is at the heart of secure wireless networks operating in over 20 countries around the world.
The Machine Network includes access points communicating in a simple star topology with RPMA-enabled devices; back office software enabling network management and field area data visualization; and device and back office integration enabled via industry standard interfaces.
Measuring 16 mm by 26 mm by 2.3 mm in a Land Grid Array (LGA) package, SARA-S200 provides an easy migration between other u-blox form factors and cellular technologies thanks to nested design. Its low-power design (50 µW average power consumption in sleep mode) means it can operate for 10 years or longer from a single battery.
The modules will be manufactured in ISO/TS 16949 certified facilities with guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) and a secure design that meets NERC CIP and other industry-mandated critical infrastructure requirements. The SARA-S200 has been designed for industrial applications and offers an extended operating temperature of -40°C to +85°C.
u-blox has ported the proven technology used in its first-generation RPMA modules and made it 65 percent smaller. SARA-S200 delivers significant cost and size optimizations ideal for application in the smart meter, smart building, gas & oil, asset/personnel tracking and agricultural industries.
As the second generation module developed by u-blox in association with Ingenu, SARA-S200 builds on the companies’ strategic partnership, which began last September, and was cemented with the introduction of u-blox’s initial module for the Machine Network, the NANO-S100.
An RPMA network can cover thousands of miles (each access point can support 64 k devices), encompassing entire cities or countries while supporting millions of sensors. Operating in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band, the Machine Network features demonstrated 176 dB of link budget (FCC/IC) for superior connectivity delivering enhanced range, capacity, robustness and low power consumption, even in demanding of environments.
“Our strategic partnership with u-blox is further strengthened by the introduction of SARA-S200,” said John Horn, CEO of Ingenu. “It will give our partners the option of a fully compliant RPMA module with the same outstanding performance, in a significantly smaller format. The introduction of the SARA-S200 module will help enable a new generation of IoT applications.”
