b-konnet's Gateway Deployment Achieves 10km Offshore Signal Coverage in Chile for Optimal Asset Tracking

Founded in 2014, b-konnet is a leading company dedicated to innovating IoT solutions for Industry 4.0. Based in Vitacura, Santiago, Chile, they digitalize regional industries with advanced IoT tech. Their powerful analytics engine, b-kontrol, enables data-driven decisions, considering trends, variables, and automatic predictions. Specializing in aquaculture, food, chemicals, GLP, and fuel distribution, b-konnet optimizes operations and stock control. As an IoT and M2M integrator, they also offer Big Data integrations for Smart City applications, driving market concepts.

b-konnet’s challenge arises due to limited signal coverage that has been hindering effective communication and tracking capabilities. Existing solutions struggle to provide reliable connectivity in both the port and bay areas. To optimize operations and enhance connectivity, a solution with extensive signal coverage is crucial to ensure uninterrupted data transmission and real-time tracking.

The desired outcome for the solution is that it should offer the following features:

• Expanded coverage in both the port area and the bay area.
• Reliable and accurate data collection for asset tracking.
• Battery-powered solution requiring minimal maintenance.
• Uninterrupted connectivity for seamless monitoring and management of assets.

Port and bay area of the cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, Chile

• Choosing equipment and testing the concept

The gateway, b-konnet decided to use was the RAK7249 WisGate Edge Max for its durable casing and great characteristics. They installed it in the central area of Valparaiso bay, on a building, about 30 meters above sea level. In this position, they have verified coverage up to 10 km offshore and all the coastal areas of the cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.

The RAK7205 WisNode Track devices (with the RAK5205 WisTrio LPWAN Trackers inside) were chosen for their 3400 mAh battery and 5V solar panel. With this configuration, it is possible to have independent power, even on cloudy days. Ideally, the battery would never require recharging via the mains and the node will operate autonomously indefinitely.

Navigations tests were carried in the bay, and uninterrupted coverage and reporting of the positions were achieved.

Range tests were carried out, in which b-konnet obtained connectivity results up to 10 km offshore with very high reliability, without losing data. In the distance tests carried out in the bay, a range of more than 12 km was achieved.

• Modifications and customization

It can be said that creativity means to have something and modify it to fit perfectly in your concept. b-konnet took the RAK7205 as a base and developed another tracker with a 5.5V panel to speed up battery charging and allow for a longer run time in even harsher environments with only batteries.

Not only that, they took things further with their other equipment modifications, designed to be implemented in assets that have their own energy provision and therefore have the option of an external 12V power supply. They even added an external antenna for both the GPS and LoRa, thus boosting the great device range even further.

• Deployment period

This project is under development, as field tests are still ongoing. As the matter with coverage is dealt with, the team is testing if the equipment can remain powered only with battery and solar panel and for how long, given the periodic tracking requirements demanded by customers.

As mentioned, in parallel, other power options were explored: larger solar panels, batteries with more capacity, and even equipment that can be powered directly from the monitored assets.

The solution that b-konnet is presenting took them approximately 3 months to develop to this stage.

• Data collection and management

For data collection and management purposes, a custom platform is used. Here’s a sneak-peek:

• Implementation

Everything was put to the test in a real working environment, with some tests in a real port operation, where tracking container trucks that work throughout the port area were transporting containers for the loading and unloading of ships. The challenge was to gain full coverage despite the high stacks of containers in the port area, which block the signal.

The result was very satisfactory. There were no dead spots in the coverage of any area of ​​the port and the monitoring could be carried out continuously without problems.

Alejandro Hugo, a b-konnet representative, summarized the project as successful:

• All the objectives were achieved. It was possible to obtain more than 12 km in the bay area and offshore, and also excellent coverage in the port area and the entire coast of the cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, which are located in the bay of Valparaiso, Chile.
• We also obtained very good results in tracking assets in the port of Valparaiso, so the solution can be perfectly applied to real situations controlling a large number of assets of all kinds, without having to have sources of external power supplies, which also allows it to be a maintenance-free solution.

Apart from this project aimed at port assets, the company is developing another asset control solution for the health industry. This one aims to create an asset tracking system that allows control of the presence of expensive laboratory equipment on loan from suppliers to their clients, which are hospitals, clinics, and laboratories — a fitting cause in pandemic times.