Space Technologies for energy-autonomous operating sensors that provide dedicated status information in Machine-2-Machine communications

In both, railways and waste containers management, there is a stringent demand for energy-autonomous operating sensors that provide dedicated status information. Three large system operators explained their interest in supporting the study. Both user groups require dedicated status information of their stationary (infrastructure) and mobile (wagon) devices or waste containers. The Eureka system integrator and service provider for energy autonomous telematics units, sensors and data operation as GSOC collaborate free of charge. For use in railways or in container monitoring as it is done for recyclable waste, the M2M data to be transmitted are in the area of position / localisation, time, system status, aberrations or “anomalies” of the to be monitored device as well as of critical infrastructure that is required for e.g. seamless transport chains (e.g. bridges, railroads, etc.). An operational scenario for e.g. railway application has already been evaluated in detail within the GP-AIMS project. The most stringent user needs are global 24/7 availability and service, extremely low communication cost, very small bandwidth per sensor, extremely low available energy at the sensor device/energy-autonomous operation, able to work in harsh environmental conditions.