How Satellite Communications Keeps Unattended Sensors Connected

Unattended sensors are everywhere. Nearly every industry uses them, and nearly every user has the same requirements: they need them to be on and working, no matter what. Deploying unattended sensors requires a lot of trust in the communications systems that keep the sensors connected and operating. Key requirements like global coverage, high reliability, weather resilience, and a fast connection can only confidently be met by adding satellite communications (SATCOM) to the mix.

To paint a picture of the critical role SATCOM plays in connecting unattended sensors, it is important to understand what they are and how they’re used.

What Are Unattended Sensors?

Unattended sensors serve as the unsung heroes of the autonomous world. They are primarily used to capture and disseminate critical data on a 24/7 basis and have a rugged design, meant to withstand the elements for long periods of time—even decades—without human intervention. Unattended sensors are often deployed in remote areas where cellular connectivity is minimal or nonexistent, underscoring the importance of having access to a SATCOM solution to use as a primary or backup connectivity option.

The Iridium® network is uniquely qualified to connect unattended sensors, being the only network that delivers truly global coverage. Each satellite is connected to its neighboring satellites via crosslinks creating a web of coverage around the entire planet. Additionally, its location in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) delivers a fast, low-latency connection, while its L-band frequency provides a reliable and weather resilient signal, which are ideal network characteristics for providing connectivity to unattended sensors.

How Do Unattended Sensors Work?

Remote unattended sensors fall under the satellite Internet of Things (IoT) umbrella. They are typically small form factor devices that are deployed across remote environments. Unattended sensors can serve as standalone units or can be attached to an object (ex: a piece of equipment). These sensors can be programmed to monitor an activity, send alerts when a specific threshold has been reached or triggered, provide a status update or track a specific process. Once the sensor has collected the data, it shares that information with the end user on a routine basis.

Satellite IoT technology developers are able to create a variety of unattended sensor solutions over the Iridium network to meet any project connectivity requirement. There are options to leverage solar power for in-field deployments with off-the-shelf solutions like Iridium Edge® Solar, and ways to incorporate edge computing to ensure only the most important data is being communicated, which can help manage costs and increase efficiencies.

Iridium’s satellite IoT solutions and devices are purpose-built for low power, low energy, low cost, and long deployment project lifecycles. There are many developer resources and various modalities to integrate with the network including Iridium IoT terminals and modules, and options to develop around Iridium core technology to build new applications.

Use Cases

Unattended sensors are deployed by a variety of industries all over the world in some of the most hazardous environments. Whether it’s a utility company monitoring pipelines, a remote weather station tracking severe storms, railway track condition sensing and monitoring, or tsunami warning buoys, these sensors are everywhere and are helping to make a positive impact on our planet.

For example, agricultural businesses rely on unattended sensors to monitor environmental changes across vast and remote farmlands throughout Latin America. Additionally, conservationists deploy unattended sensors to monitor changes to ecosystems like melting ice caps and glaciers and are also using them to track migration patterns of endangered species like the Adelie penguin population in Antarctica.

The United States Government is a major user of unattended sensors, including both unattended ground sensors and unattended sensors in maritime environments. The USG primarily uses unattended ground sensors to minimize human exposure to dangerous situations. While these sensors are deployed for standard tracking uses, they are also used for persistent sensing applications that capture data for safety of life purposes.

For instance, Iridium partner McQ offers multiple unattended ground sensor solutions for military and commercial use. These sensors are small, rugged devices that can be stealthily deployed (some versions can even be air dropped) into locations that are too dangerous for humans. McQ unattended sensor technology can monitor the acoustics of an area and differentiate between animal, vehicle, and human sounds. This technology can also track seismic and magnetic sensing data and can characterize a specific object and identify the direction it is moving. These devices can be used for secure military operations like tracking footpaths and can send information in multiple formats including data messages, photos, and videos.

The United States Department of Interior also relies on unattended ground sensors to track water levels, levees, and other infrastructural elements to monitor degradation and prevent disaster events. Iridium partner Intellisense offers a solution called the AWARE Flood Sensor that tracks flood waters and provides warning signals to first responders about flood prone areas.

There is a lot to share about this world, and what we’ve covered above is only the tip of the iceberg. By using SATCOM to connect unattended sensors, companies and organizations from nearly all industries are able to monitor and collect data about nearly anything, from anywhere.