Traxmate provides a robust solution for IoT asset tracking by integrating Semtech’s LoRa Edge™ into the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®. This technology provides cloud-based GNSS resolving, indoor AI-enhanced WiFi-based positioning, and LoRaWAN® TDOA geolocation, allowing for precise and efficient positioning over LoRaWAN® networks.
This powerful but extremely low-power-consuming combination offers precise, scalable, and efficient location intelligence for asset tracking, logistics, smart cities, industrial IoT, and personnel safety, providing capabilities that surpass traditional GPS solutions.
NB! If you’re interested in a demo of the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® service and have a Semtech reference design device, you can sign up here.
Table of Contents
Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®
Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® is a robust and scalable cloud-based service that complements the Semtech LoRa Edge™ hardware. It provides seamless and efficient location computation services. The service delivers accurate positioning data by processing GNSS and WiFi scans sent from Semtech LoRa Edge™ devices while using minimal power on the device side. This significantly enhances both battery life and overall performance.
The core functionalities of Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® are the same as the legacy Semtech LoRa Edge Cloud service, as follows:
- Cloud-Based Location Computation:
This feature processes data collected from GNSS and WiFi scans in the cloud, alleviating device computational burden and enhancing energy efficiency. - Easy Device Integration:
The platform simplifies the onboarding and management of devices through user-friendly cloud interfaces. - Highly Secure Infrastructure:
It offers secure and reliable data processing with built-in security measures that ensure data privacy and protection. - Scalable and Flexible:
Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® easily scales to support thousands of devices and integrates seamlessly with existing IoT infrastructure and services.
How Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® Saves Power
The Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® considerably lowers power consumption by collecting raw satellite data and WiFi MAC addresses and sending them directly to the Traxmate Cloud for processing. Unlike traditional GNSS methods that perform position calculations on the device itself, this cloud-based approach significantly reduces the computational load on the device, resulting in lower power usage.
Capabilities Provided by Traxmate that extend the legacy Semtech Lora Edge Cloud Service
Traxmate enhances Semtech LoRa Edge™ hardware and cloud services by introducing advanced capabilities specifically designed for enterprise IoT solutions:
- AI-Enhanced Indoor Positioning:
The system uses deep learning algorithms to deliver highly accurate results that surpass those of traditional indoor positioning methods. Also, where traditional positioning provides estimated longitude and latitude, Traxmate can position in 3D with building, floor, and room accuracy. - Analytics and Reporting:
Location intelligence is not only about knowing where, but also about reporting, statistics, heatmaps, congestion analysis, compliance fulfillment, and more. - Advanced Custom Geofencing:
Users can create complex geofences with location-aware alerts and automated actions, significantly improving asset security and operational responsiveness. - Integrated Device Health Monitoring:
This feature continuously monitors device and battery health, as well as operational parameters, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal asset availability. - Comprehensive Dashboard Interface:
Offers user-friendly, real-time dashboards for intuitive device tracking, management, and analytics visualization. - Predictive Maintenance Solutions:
This includes integrated battery condition monitoring and predictive maintenance scheduling, which enhances operational reliability and reduces overall costs.
By leveraging these expanded capabilities, businesses can fully realize the potential of their IoT deployments, achieving greater efficiency, accuracy, and strategic advantages in their operational landscape.
About Semtech LoRa Edge™
Semtech LoRa Edge™ is an advanced, integrated hardware solution designed specifically for asset tracking and management. It utilizes LoRaWAN® technology to deliver low-power, long-range connectivity, along with GNSS and WiFi scanning capabilities for positioning. This combination significantly enhances location accuracy and extends battery life.
LoRa Edge™ facilitates efficient asset management and tracking, making it an ideal solution for logistics, industrial IoT, smart agriculture, and smart cities.
Key features of Semtech LoRa Edge™ include:
- Ultra-Low Power:
Up to 90% power savings compared to traditional GNSS solutions by offloading complex position calculations to the cloud, reducing typical GNSS energy consumption from milliwatts to microwatts. The significantly reduced power consumption via cloud-based solvers extends the device battery life up to 10 years. - Multi-Technology Location Scanning:
Integrates GNSS, WiFi, and LoRaWAN®-based geolocation to enhance positioning accuracy indoors and outdoors. All location resolving is offloaded to Traxmate LoRa Cloud. - Global Scalability:
Supports worldwide deployments through standardized LoRaWAN® networks. - Reduced Complexity:
Streamlines device design and reduces component requirements, thereby accelerating the time to market for asset tracking solutions.
For further details, visit Semtech LoRa Edge™ or download the Semtech product sheet here.
Business benefits
Enhance your business with advanced positioning and asset-tracking features. Sign up today to experience the next generation of low-power, seamless outdoor and indoor IoT tracking with Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®.
Supply Chain & Logistics
- End-to-End Visibility:
Track global shipments in real-time with exceptional accuracy. - Improved Efficiency:
Reduce theft, delays, and optimize route management through accurate tracking and predictive analytics.
Infrastructure Monitoring & Smart Cities
- Enhanced Urban Planning:
Utilize precise location data to optimize asset deployment and maintenance schedules. - Reduced Asset Loss:
Immediate detection and prevention of unauthorized asset movements.
Enterprise Asset Monitoring
- Asset Utilization Optimization:
Improve resource allocation through detailed utilization analytics. - Asset Security:
Proactive theft prevention and instant compliance alerts.
Workforce Safety & Management
- Safety Enhancements:
Real-time personnel location monitoring ensures rapid response in emergencies. - Regulatory Compliance:
Automate safety audits and compliance reporting through advanced tracking.
Technology
Cloud-based GNSS Resolving in LoRaWAN®
In a traditional GNSS model, IoT devices determine their location by connecting directly to multiple satellites. This process demands significant processing power and can quickly deplete battery life. However, Traxmate improves location tracking over LoRaWAN® by the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® GNSS offloading system, which transfers the location calculation to the cloud for greater efficiency.
If you want to try this, you can sign up for the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® Demo.
- Raw GNSS Data Capture
LoRa-enabled devices periodically capture GNSS data passively, storing the raw satellite signal data without needing local processing. This approach is energy-efficient because the device only records the signals and avoids complex calculations. - Transmission to Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®
The captured GNSS data is transmitted over the LoRaWAN® network to the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN. This step is highly efficient due to LoRaWAN®’s capabilities, which allow data to be sent in low-bandwidth bursts over long distances while consuming minimal power. - Cloud-Based Location Computation
Once in the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®, the raw GNSS data is processed into geographical coordinates by high-powered servers that utilize a combination of satellite signal analysis and algorithms optimized for accuracy and speed. Depending on the coverage available, the device’s approximate location is determined using data from visible GNSS (GPS or BeiDou) satellites. - Return of Location Data
After processing, the computed location is returned to the Traxmate application, where users can easily view and manage this information through a user-friendly interface or subscribe to the data flows and display it in another solution.
This GNSS offloading approach is particularly beneficial for assets that require regular location updates while maintaining extended battery life, as power-intensive processing is wholly offloaded to the cloud. It is ideal for remote or long-term deployments in applications such as security and safety, environmental monitoring, logistics, and agriculture.
Time-Difference-of-Arrival (TDOA) in LoRaWAN® for Geolocation
Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® also includes TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) as an alternative to GNSS-based location tracking. This is particularly beneficial when GNSS signals are somehow obstructed. TDOA utilizes the timing differences of signals detected by multiple LoRaWAN® gateways to determine a device’s position. However, if the tracker is equipped with WiFi scanning capabilities, this offers a much more accurate solution for indoor positioning. Traxmate provides excellent AI-enhanced and WiFi-based indoor tracking options built on Combain services.
- Signal Transmission Across Gateways
LoRaWAN® devices periodically transmit signals, which multiple LoRaWAN® gateways within range can detect. Each gateway records the exact time of arrival of the signal, relying on synchronized clocks that are crucial for Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) calculations. - Calculation of Time Differences
The Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® collects time-stamped data from each gateway and calculates the time differences between these arrivals. These time differences indicate the distances between the device and each gateway, providing essential data points for triangulating the device’s position. - Triangulation Algorithm
In the Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®, TDOA algorithms utilize these time differences to compute the device’s approximate location based on the gateways’ known positions. The system can estimate positions with varying degrees of accuracy, typically within tens to hundreds of meters, depending on the number of gateways and the characteristics of the signal environment. - Output and Display in Traxmate
The determined location is then made available on the Traxmate platform, enabling users to monitor and track assets in real-time. TDOA is especially advantageous for applications with limited GNSS visibility and low-cost devices that may not have full GNSS or WiFi scanning capabilities.
Technical Advantages of Using GNSS and TDOA in Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN®
- Reduced Power Consumption
Offloading computational tasks to the cloud allows devices to focus on capturing and transmitting GNSS or signal timing data, which helps extend battery life by up to 10 times the power savings of standard GNSS. - Scalability Across Networks
GNSS offloading and Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) are scalable solutions. Traxmate Cloud for LoRaWAN® can handle large volumes of location data from multiple devices in real time. - Wide Area Coverage
LoRaWAN®’s long-range and low-power features enable tracking over extensive, often rural areas where traditional cellular networks may not provide coverage.
Additional Resources
Semtech overview video from the Semtech Academy for LoRaWAN®:
