The very concept of wireless sensors is to make monitoring easier. Why, then, does industrial monitoring tend to get complicated? We keep it simple at El-Watch and strive to deliver the most user-friendly IoT monitoring solutions on the market.
Wireless sensors are designed to improve efficiency, but many solutions are far from user-friendly. No one needs complicated efficiency; it defeats the purpose. Efficiency is best promoted with effective solutions, which we have to offer.
Before revealing how our wireless sensors make monitoring easy, discussing the root causes that complicate IoT monitoring is useful. Alternatively, you can skip directly to the chapter on El-Watch wireless sensor solutions here.
Content
- How do wireless sensors work?
- What are wireless sensor networks?
- IoT monitoring challenges
- Wireless sensors + IoT = User-friendly harmony
- Wireless sensors’ industrial applications
- Examples of functional wireless sensor networks
- Benefits of investing in wireless sensors
- Wireless sensor challenges
- El-Watch’s wireless sensors
- Complicated efficiency is history!
How do wireless sensors work?
Wireless sensors operate as electronic devices that remotely monitor changes in physical or environmental conditions. They respond to various parameters such as temperature, moisture, pressure, light, and more. These sensors digitize measurements and transmit them to a nearby wireless data collector or gateway for further processing.
Wireless sensors are applied in everything from smart gadgets to smart cities. At El-Watch, we focus on remote IoT monitoring in the industrial sector. Industrial wireless sensors are especially robust and usually form large wireless sensor networks.
Related article: How wireless sensors enable a sustainable manufacturing industry
What are wireless sensor networks?
A wireless sensor network gathers data from multiple monitoring nodes. The wireless sensor nodes transmit data to a gateway, which transfers the recorded data to a local processing unit, or in an IoT solution, to an IoT cloud. IoT monitoring software enables network control and data analysis.
Depending on the mode of production, facility layout, size of operation, and other environmental factors, wireless sensor networks often require ad hoc solutions. Naturally, this can create a wide range of wireless network complications.
IoT monitoring challenges
To combat wasteful procedures and promote efficiency, El-Watch delivers end-to-end user-friendliness. We aim to streamline and simplify all processes, from planning and setting up wireless sensor networks to data gathering and analysis.
Wireless sensor network planning issues
Most wireless sensor network issues hereunder can be avoided. However, planning for IoT monitoring is not easy without a team of sensor experts at hand. El-Watch is here to help you plan, set up, and run wireless sensor networks.
The first and foremost things to consider are the coverage in your facility, the energy costs for keeping your wireless network running, network maintenance needs, network scalability, and data-collecting requirements.
Finding the right wireless sensor network
Choosing a supplier is one of the first issues you’ll encounter after deciding to invest in a wireless sensor network. There are many solutions on the market with different strengths and weaknesses.
The challenge is to find the best-fitting wireless sensor network solution for your operation. At El-Watch, we don’t sell without consulting and ensuring that each customer gets the best possible solution for their operation.
Calibration issues with wireless sensors
Interference is a common issue when working with industrial wireless sensors. Establishing persistently reliable data transfers in large locales with lots of physical and electric disturbances can be challenging.
On top of that, environmental changes and equipment movements often cause parameters to change, which means that the sensors must be recalibrated. Faulty calibration results in poor maintenance routines and can pose safety risks.
Connectivity issues with wireless sensors
Regarding calibration and daily operation, your wireless sensor network must communicate fluently with the gateway, cloud, and managing software. Getting it all up and running can be challenging.
Wireless sensor networks depend on reliable connectivity from nodes via multiple connectors to the managing software. Every time the data transfers, it can create issues if the data stops, gets corrupted, or is delayed. To secure and simplify the process, our wireless sensor network handles all data, from sensor nodes to managing software, in a fluid motion.
Troubles with changing wireless sensors
Wireless sensors can be sensitive to harsh environments, which might cause hardware failure. Replacing a faulty node is crucial but can cause complications due to difficult placement. It can even be hard to detect because of lacking data management.
Undetected faulty nodes lead to inaccurate monitoring, and error detection requires meticulous data control. El-Watch’s line of robust neuron sensors is not sensitive to harsh conditions, and our Neuron Sensors App enables easy data management, easy sensor replacement, and full control of the sensor network’s health status.
Data gathering and interpretation issues
Data collection comes with certain challenges, such as complex management, security concerns, real-time transfer reliability, and storage requirements.
El-Watch’s user-friendly solutions take care of all these issues. In short, we’ve simplified data management with our app and fortified IoT monitoring with our hardware.
Read more about smart sensor issues and how we solve them here.
Wireless sensors + IoT = User-friendly harmony
IoT is a critical component in making wireless sensor networks user-friendly. Extended data control makes it easier to detect anomalies immediately. To be clear, we’re not talking about anomalies in your wireless sensors but predictive maintenance.
Faulty wireless sensors are a thing of the past. El-Watch’s Neuron sensors are very robust. Thanks to our data analysis software, they enable you to predict and prevent equipment failures before they occur.
The system detects and reports even the slightest changes in vibration, temperature, pressure, or humidity. Then, it compares the anomaly data to previous occurrences to decide whether maintenance is necessary.
We have another article about predictive maintenance if you want to know more. In this article, we’re focusing on the fact that wireless sensor reliability and software tailored for user-friendliness make IoT monitoring easier than ever.
Wireless sensors’ industrial applications
Industrial wireless sensor networks have many applications. Most prominently, it is used for predictive maintenance, operations automation, production optimization, and improved safety.
The latter is directly connected to predictive maintenance since maintenance workers often toil in hazardous environments at a time when safety systems are paused. Predictive maintenance reduces the need for emergency upkeep and thereby brings down accident numbers in the industrial sector.
In more detail, industrial wireless sensors are used for remote IoT monitoring of vibrations, temperature, refrigeration, cold chains, HVAC, and much more. Let’s take a look at a few practical examples.
Examples of functional wireless sensor networks
It only took three days for our vibration sensors to avert a crisis at a timber corporation with more than 440 employees. In 2020, Bergen Holm AS tested five El-Watch sensors. Today, their IoT monitoring networks count more than 600 wireless sensors.
With a turnover of more than 130 million USD, Bergene Holm AS relies on any number of machines to keep production going. Our vibration sensors help Bergene Holm engage in predictive maintenance and eliminate any unwanted production halts.
«Simplicity was also important for the company when selecting the sensor provider» (Technical Director, Håvard Omholt). Read the full story here: Breakdowns prevented by sensors in Bergene Holm production line
Benefits of investing in wireless sensors
We’ve already covered the core benefits of wireless IoT monitoring: It enables predictive maintenance, production optimization, and improved safety. But there are also many benefits of opting for wireless sensors instead of wired ones.
First and foremost, wireless sensor networks are much easier to install, adapt and scale in line with production upgrades. You simply move, recalibrate, and acquire more wireless sensors when you need them.
Wired sensors make sense in certain scenarios, like when you need fast process control or in machine protection systems relying on thousands of samples per second. However, you should always consider if your operation is suited for wireless IoT monitoring. It might save you many headaches.
Top benefits of wireless sensor monitoring
- Easy installation (No cables interrupt production)
- Lowered cost (Less work on installation and customization)
- Constant connectivity (Control assets anywhere, anytime)
- Flexible monitoring (Moving wireless sensors takes seconds)
- Scalability (Wireless sensor networks are easily expanded)
El-Watch’s wireless sensors
Getting to the heart of the matter, we at El-Watch take pride in providing the most user-friendly wireless sensor networks on the market today. We started by assembling a line of robust sensors that are easy to install, set up, customize, and communicate with.
Simultaneously, we fully embraced IoT and made the Neuron Sensors App to simplify monitoring and data analysis. In a nutshell, we optimized the lines of communication in a wireless sensor network and made it easily accessible on all digital platforms.
Lastly, to complement our user-friendly IoT monitoring solutions, we gave our website a thorough overhaul. Take a tour to find info about all our sensors (more than 50 types) and applications, or get in touch to request a quote and online demo.
Complicated efficiency is history!
A common mistake in industrial monitoring is to overcomplicate things. It is crucial to choose suitable wireless sensors for your IoT monitoring. Most El-Watch sensors are easily attached by magnets or adhesives, which makes your network incredibly flexible.
You can easily calibrate your wireless sensors and get them to communicate with our app. Take vibration sensor networks, for instance. Simply scan the QR code of each sensor with your phone and engage IoT monitoring on your dashboard.
Wireless sensors are intended to make monitoring easier, which we aim to follow through. We designed the El-Watch IoT monitoring solutions to be user-friendly, long-lasting, and promote economic and environmental sustainability in the industrial sector.
Resources
Academia: Wireless Sensor Networks: Issues, Challenges, and Survey of Solutions
Analog Devices: Wireless Sensor Network Challenges and Solutions
Computer Networks Journal: Wireless sensor networks: a survey
IOT For All: Wireless Sensor Solutions That Solve Retail Problems
MDPI: Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks and Internet of Things Frameworks in the Industry Revolution 4.0
Science Direct: Wireless Sensor Network
Yokogawa Solution Service Corporation: Practical Considerations for Selecting an Industrial Wireless Sensor Network
FAQs about wireless sensors
What is a wireless sensor?
A wireless sensor detects changes in its environment using sensors and wirelessly transmits data to a central location or other devices.
What is an example of a wireless network sensor?
In an industrial setting, a temperature sensor in warehouses or a vibration sensor on machinery exemplifies a wireless network sensor. These sensors wirelessly transmit data to monitoring systems, enabling real-time tracking and proactive maintenance.
Read more: Wireless temperature sensor: A remote control for industrial gains
How do wireless sensors communicate?
Wireless sensors typically communicate using radio frequencies (RF) or infrared (IR) signals to transmit data wirelessly to a central hub, receiver, or other connected devices.
What are the advantages of wireless sensors?
- Flexibility: Easy installation without the need for extensive wiring.
- Scalability: Can be easily expanded or reconfigured.
- Cost-effectiveness: Reduced installation and maintenance costs.
- Mobility: Can be placed in remote or difficult-to-access locations.
What is the disadvantage of a wireless sensor network?
- Reliability: Susceptible to interference and signal disruptions.
- Inaccuracy under harsh conditions: Outdated technology might suffer under industrial stress.
- Frequent updates: Rapid development in the sensor industry may require frequent system updates to keep your monitoring up to date with the latest industry standards.
- Security concerns: Potential vulnerabilities to unauthorized access or data interception.
Read more: Wireless smart sensor issues and how to overcome them!
What are the pros and cons of sensors?
- Pros: Enable real-time monitoring, improve efficiency, and provide valuable data insights.
- Cons: Initial cost of deployment, maintenance requirements, and potential data privacy issues.
What are the challenges of security in wireless sensor networks?
- Data Privacy: Ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.
- Authentication: Verifying the identity of devices and users.
- Encryption: Securing data transmission to prevent eavesdropping.
- Access Control: Limiting access to authorized personnel or devices.
How do you secure a wireless sensor network?
- Use strong encryption protocols (e.g., AES) for data transmission.
- Implement authentication mechanisms (e.g., passwords, certificates).
- Regularly update firmware and software to patch vulnerabilities.
- Segment networks to isolate critical systems from less secure devices.
What is the difference between IoT and wireless sensor networks?
IoT (Internet of Things) refers to a network of interconnected devices (including sensors) that communicate and exchange data over the internet. Wireless Sensor Networks focus explicitly on networks of sensors that collect and transmit data wirelessly within a localized environment or system.
Read more: What are IoT sensors, and why are they a good investment?
