Exploring Wireless Technologies in Action at WIoT tomorrow 2024

From radio and optical technologies and connectivity to wireless and ambient energy technologies, WIoT Tomorrow 2024 showcases a wide range of cutting-edge innovations that simplify, optimise and accelerate applications across industries.

With these technologies, businesses can improve efficiency, streamline processes and unlock new opportunities. Read on to discover the key technologies, their capabilities, applications and benefits.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has become a cornerstone in industries like retail, logistics, and healthcare. Offering both near-field (LF, HF) and long-range (UHF) options, RFID provides real-time tracking and management of assets, reducing human error and streamlining operations.

Whether tracking inventory in warehouses or monitoring medical equipment in hospitals, RFID delivers unmatched visibility, accuracy, and efficiency.

• Applications: Inventory management, asset tracking, access control, supply chain optimization
• Benefits: Cost-effective, highly reliable, non-line-of-sight tracking

Find out more about RFID at Think WIoT!

BLE is a low-power wireless technology that has found its way into IoT devices, wearables, and industrial automation. Its energy efficiency and ability to support mesh networks make BLE ideal for building smart environments, from smart homes to industrial IoT systems.

BLE’s role in Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), in conjunction with UWB and RFID, offers precise tracking of assets and personnel within confined spaces.

• Applications: IoT devices, RTLS, smart homes, industrial automation
• Benefits: Low energy consumption, high accuracy, scalable mesh networks

Find out more about Bluetooth LE at Think WIoT!

Near Field Communication (NFC) is transforming how we interact with devices for payment, authentication, and data transfer. Commonly used in retail for contactless payments and in access control systems, NFC offers security and simplicity. Its applications in logistics and healthcare continue to expand, enhancing operational efficiency.

• Applications: Contactless payments, access control, ticketing, data transfer
• Benefits: Secure, convenient, seamless user experience

Find out more about NFC at Think WIoT!

OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) serves as a software and middleware standard, bridging the gap between different systems and devices. In the IoT ecosystem, OPC UA ensures secure and scalable data exchange, allowing industries to achieve seamless integration between hardware and software.

This standard is widely adopted in manufacturing and industrial automation, where interoperability is crucial for managing complex systems.

• Applications: Industrial automation, IoT device integration, data exchange
• Benefits: Interoperable, secure, scalable

Find out more about OPC UA at Think WIoT!

Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) use technologies like UWB, RFID, and BLE to provide precise location tracking in real time. From tracking assets in a warehouse to monitoring patients in a hospital, RTLS enhances visibility and improves safety.

UWB offers high precision, while BLE and RFID provide versatile options for different environments.

• Applications: Warehousing, healthcare, security, transportation
• Benefits: High precision, real-time visibility, enhanced safety

Find out more about RTLS at Think WIoT!

Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) like LoRaWAN and Mioty are designed for long-range communication with low energy consumption, making them ideal for applications like smart cities, agriculture, and industrial monitoring.

These technologies provide robust coverage for remote and distributed systems where traditional wireless solutions may fall short.

• Applications: Smart cities, agriculture, environmental monitoring, industrial applications
• Benefits: Long-range, low power, cost-effective

Find out more about LPWAN, LoRaWAN and mioty at Think WIoT!

Energy technologies are also gaining traction in IoT and wireless solutions. RF Energy enables wireless power transmission, eliminating the need for batteries in some cases, while Organic Photovoltaics (OPV), such as those developed by Dracula Technologies, offer flexible, sustainable power generation solutions for IoT devices.

These energy innovations are crucial for the development of sustainable, energy-efficient IoT networks.

• Applications: Wireless charging, energy harvesting for IoT devices
• Benefits: Battery-free power, sustainable energy solutions, flexibility

The advent of 5G and upcoming 6G networks, along with advanced Wi-Fi technologies, is pushing the boundaries of speed and connectivity. These technologies enable real-time data exchange and support massive IoT deployments, from smart cities to autonomous vehicles.

Combined with the flexibility of Advanced Wi-Fi Solutions, they offer improved bandwidth, low latency, and enhanced capacity.

• Applications: Smart cities, autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT
• Benefits: Ultra-fast connectivity, low latency, large-scale IoT support

Find out more about 5G/6G and Wi-Fi at Think WIoT!