Smart Remote Sensor: Industrial Edge Monitoring
The Smart Remote Sensor is a compact edge device designed to bridge physical machinery with cloud infrastructure. Built on the nRF52840 and SX1262 architectures, it offers flexible deployment options for temperature monitoring, machine uptime tracking, and custom sensor integration.
Dual-Mode Connectivity
The device supports two distinct wireless protocols, allowing you to prioritize either ultra-low power consumption or maximum range depending on your facility's needs.
- Ultra-Low Power BLE (PAwR): Utilizing Bluetooth 5.4 Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR), the sensor maintains a synchronized connection with a maximum latency of just 1.5 seconds.
- Long-Range LoRa: For environments with heavy RF noise or physical obstructions (such as thick concrete walls), the SX1262 LoRa module ensures reliable data transmission where standard 2.4GHz signals fail.
Power Consumption & Battery Life
We have optimized the communication stack to minimize current draw, verified using the Nordic Power Profiler Kit 2.
- Average Current: ~30µA (in PAwR mode)
- Standard Battery (600mAh): >2 years continuous runtime.
- Extended Capacity (1800mAh): Up to 7 years runtime (compatible with current frame via PCB redesign).
Physical Interface: The DB9 Standard
To ensure industrial reliability and ease of integration, the device exposes its I/O through a standard DE-9 (DB9) connector. This allows for secure, locking connections and simplified cabling.
Pinout Features:
- Closed Loop Detect: Dedicated pins for direct machine operation sensing (Run/Stop status).
- Expansion Bus: Supports I2C, SPI, and CAN protocols (via expansion modules), enabling the daisy-chaining of custom external sensors.
Programming: SWD pins are accessible for firmware updates without opening the housing.
| Pin | Function | Usage |
| 1 | Loop Detect | Machine status / Closed loop detection |
| 6 | Loop GND | Return signal for loop detect |
| 2 | I2C SDA | Expansion Sensor Data |
| 7 | I2C SCL | Expansion Sensor Clock |
| 3 | SWD IO | Firmware Programming / Debugging |
| 8 | SWD CLK | Firmware Clock |
| 4 | V+ (3-5V) | Power Input |
| 9 | V+ (3-5V) | Redundant Power (Optional) |
| 5 | GND | System Ground |
Built-in Sensing
The unit includes an integrated DS18B20 1-Wire temperature sensor, providing immediate thermal monitoring capabilities without external wiring.
Infrastructure & Gateway
The Smart Remote Sensor operates as part of a managed network. Network is currently operation in star shape architecture with gateway at the center.
Standard Gateway: Required to send PAwR sync messages and bridge LoRa communications.
LTE-M / NB-IoT Option: Nordic Thingy:91, allowing for a direct MQTT link over cellular LTE networks, eliminating the need for local Wi-Fi or Ethernet infrastructure.
