Semtech, which supplies products including high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, has launched its Smart Building Reference Kit, a collection of tools designed to accelerate the development of smart building solutions based on LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol.
The kit will allow users to monitor doors and windows, desk and room presence, environmental conditions, and detect water intrusion. The kit also includes more than 20 sensors, two gateways and a global 4G hotspot for simplified setup. The portable nature of the kit allows users to move sensor locations to assess completeness of network coverage, the company said.
“The diverse range of sensors as well the easy set-up of this kit support our organizational efforts to promote and deploy LoRa-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology both internally, and for our clients, growing our business,” said Wiljan van Loon, Strategic Development Director at Securitas Services Europe.
“Semtech’s Smart Building Reference Kit will empower potential customers to utilize LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol in the development of their own smart building applications,” said Byron BeMiller, director of vertical marketing for smart buildings in Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “Customers will be able to quickly create simple smart building networks without needing to have extensive knowledge of IoT technologies. All tools included in the kit rely on readily accessible PC software.”
Semtech highlighted that IoT devices in commercial real estate have grown from 71.2 million in 2015 to more than 791 million in 2019. Despite the continued growth of IoT for smart buildings, the highly technical nature of IoT serves as a barrier to entry for many potential businesses.
LoRa devices enable a wide range of smart building solutions that meet customer needs and deliver real return on investment, the company said.
“Buildings often present unique challenges for radio coverage and frequently require sensors to be placed in difficult-to-reach locations. LoRa’s ability to cover deep indoor locations within a building’s structure and offer long battery life make it the preferred technology for today’s smart building projects. Through the creation of a self-contained kit, Semtech aims to simplify the testing of LoRa-based products in a smart building environment and continue to support LoRa-based developers and end users,” Semtech said.
Semtech’s LoRa is a long-range, low-power solution for IoT that gives telecom companies, IoT application makers and system integrators the possibility to deploy low-cost, interoperable IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products, and IoT services worldwide. IoT networks based on the LoRaWAN specification have been deployed in 100 countries.