Global IoT Asset Tracking Devices: Key Design Choices

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Internet of Things (IoT) asset tracking is a growing global solution. Businesses utilize tracking to monitor the location and condition of their assets. This improves supply chain transparency and reduces theft. Telematics devices can assist with route planning and monitor fuel use.

New regional regulations require more detailed tracking of goods in transit. Telematics enables cross-border tracking and complies with international logistics standards.

Berg Insight predicts the cargo container tracking market will grow 18% annually, from 8 million units in 2022 to 20 million in 2027.

Designing a Telematic Device

Designers building global IoT asset tracking devices must consider the device’s purpose and select features that support its function. The specific use case will determine the type of technology to include in the device.

4 New Device Design Considerations

1. Where will the device be installed?

• Trailers
• Containers
• Railcars
• Unit load device (ULD)
• Cargo boxes

2. What services will the device offer?

• Tracking and device management portal
• Analytics applications
• Integration platforms
• Cloud services
• Logistics and shipment monitoring

3. How will the device connect?

• Cellular
• Satellite
• Low-power wide-area network (LPWA)

4. Which global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) will the device need?

• GPS
• GLONASS
• Galileo

Cellular Connectivity for Global IoT Telematics

Most asset tracking devices rely on a connection to a cellular network to exchange data with the cloud. Some devices connect via non-terrestrial satellite (NTN) networks when deployed far from cellular towers and other infrastructure.

GNSS positioning provides high-accuracy location information within 3 to 5 meters. Positioning services based on Wi-Fi access points and cellular base stations deliver accuracy down to a 50-meter range.

The cellular module is a core component of an asset tracking device, accounting for a significant portion of the overall cost. Designing a device and selecting a module to maximize success while minimizing costs is a balancing act.

Factors Designers Must Consider for IoT Asset Tracking Solutions

• High capital expenditure: Deployments in this sector often require large quantities of stock in the field before revenue is earned, resulting in high initial costs.
• Secure, resilient connectivity: Devices transmit critical data, requiring secure connectivity through multiple mobile network operators (MNOs) in different countries. Services must include roaming in restricted markets and robust GNSS positioning.
• Battery limitations: Asset tracking devices are typically deployed in the field, away from power sources. They encounter significant power constraints and require battery-saving strategies, such as efficient RF and application design, along with smart power management.
• Flexibility and scalability: Asset tracking solutions must easily connect and disconnect devices, organize them by type or location and adjust charged usage.

There are two common types of architecture for an asset tracking device:

• Hosted architecture: The device features a host board with an additional processor that runs the tracking application. The cellular module functions solely as a modem to transmit and receive data. The logic operates on a separate processor within the tracking device.
• Hostless architecture: Hostless architecture provides a more efficient design, making it suitable for various applications. The logic and intelligence run on the module, removing the need for an extra processor. This leads to better utilization of the cellular module’s resources. In specific scenarios, this reduces costs, shrinks device size and lowers power consumption.

LTE Cat 1 and Cat 1 Bis vs. LTE Cat M1 for Asset Tracking

The right cellular technology depends on:

• Use case
• Deployment area
• Battery restrictions
• Data throughput needs

To choose the one best suited for your use case, consider the following:

• Will your IoT device function well with low to medium data speeds?
• Do you need a migration path for legacy technologies?
• Do you need full mobility for vehicle tracking?
• Is your application capable of drawing power from a host vehicle or equipment batteries?
• Do you require multiregion coverage and roaming?
• Do you need life cycle compatibility with low-power consumption designs for LTE Cat M1?
• Do you need over-the-air firmware (FOTA) update capabilities?

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) may be an option for a simple, low-cost, battery-operated asset tracker with limited mobility.

Optimized Antenna Design for Global IoT Asset Tracking Devices

Antenna design is another critical element for asset tracking devices. An asset tracker’s antenna, when placed inside a metal container, encounters challenges that need to be addressed early in the project.

As you seek to optimize your device’s antenna design, keep in mind:

• Multiband design and worldwide coverage: If your tracker will travel globally, the antenna must cover multiple radio bands to stay connected in different regions.
• Coupling effects: Depending on their deployment location, RF antennas can interact with nearby antennas or environmental factors, such as metallic objects. These interactions, known as coupling effects, can disrupt communication efficiency, coverage and signal strength.
• Battery efficiency: Some antenna designs drain a tracking device’s battery more quickly than others. If your use case requires the device to operate in remote areas, it’s important to find ways to enhance battery efficiency, including optimizing antenna design.

New artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as the Oxion platform from Ignion, enable IoT device designers to generate a feasibility report for new products. They help evaluate antenna placement, saving time and effort as you aim to maximize your device’s effectiveness.

Telit Cinterion Solutions for Global IoT Asset Tracking

Telit Cinterion provides a full suite of services, including modules and SIMs, for asset tracking. NExT™, powered by Telit Cinterion, enables reliable and secure connectivity worldwide.

Customers can access application software in the IoT module with our IoT AppZone. Remove unnecessary CPU memory and storage components from your device’s bill of materials (BOM) to create a hostless device architecture.

OneEdge™, powered by Telit Cinterion, offers a customizable and reliable solution for managing asset tracking deployments worldwide. OneEdge is a secure software stack integrated with our IoT modules and cloud services. Connect and manage edge device deployment at scale.

With Telit Cinterion’s connected module packages, you receive module connectivity and the management tools under one contract.