DALLAS /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- RF Monolithics Inc. (RFM), a leader in machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless communications, announced an order from QinetiQ (pronounced "kinetic"), an international defense and security technology company, for modules from its new line of industrial-grade 2.4 GHz wireless mesh networking products, the XDM2140 2.4 GHz RF transceiver modules. QinetiQ, which operates in the energy and environment markets, in addition to security and defense, will incorporate these new modules in a new wireless sensing solution for the global market, specifically for applications requiring better than 99.9% data reliability and extended battery life up to 10 years. The XDM2140 module creates a self-forming, self-managing, channel-hopping, redundant path mesh network. QinetiQ's first application is an asset monitoring system.
QinetiQ is combining its proprietary sensor and electronic hardware with RFM's XDM2140 modules, with wireless mesh networking capabilities.
With the XDM2140 module, RFM offers QinetiQ a quick path to market. The module provides a UART serial port for connection to sensors and an RF connector for antenna connection, removing the need for additional RF engineering. Also, with the XDM2140's module certifications, no type acceptance testing is required of the QinetiQ's end products.
"We are pleased to announce this order from QinetiQ for our XDM2140, which fills a void in the RF modules market for ultra-reliable, ultra-low-power wireless mesh networking solutions that other mesh platforms simply don't meet," said David Crawford, RFM Vice President, Sales. "This enabling technology has been field-tested across a broad range of industrial automation and control applications, and has now been adapted to ease integration for agricultural, commercial, pharmaceutical, and other growing wireless solutions network applications. QinetiQ, a leader in defense and security, is expanding their expertise and capabilities into adjacent markets, such as energy and environment. RFM is providing the RF knowledge and enabling technology to assist them in their expansion."
The XDM2140 features three key benefits:
- Ultra-reliable data communications. The XDM2140 uses a combination of frequency hopping (for rejecting interference and minimizing multipath fading) and self-healing, automatic self-organizing mesh networking (ensuring redundancy and reliability) to achieve better than 99.9% typical data communications reliability.
- Ultra-low-power. "The XDM2140 consumes 80% less power in receive mode than competing solutions to deliver over a decade of network operation powered by batteries."
- Easy integration. The XDM2140 provides all the module functionality and requires no embedded programming or complex configuration requirements. Included with the development kits are RFM utility programs and documentation to guide OEMs with little or no RF expertise through the process of integrating the module into their products.
Rising energy costs, increasing water shortages, employee safety, and regulatory requirements are the drivers for reliability in these ultra-low-power wireless sensor networking products. Example applications affected by these drivers include sensing applications for monitoring environmental conditions and sensing applications enabling greater safety in the manufacturing, storage, and transportation of dangerous chemicals, liquids, and gases.
RFM offers one of the broadest ranges of wireless sensor networking platforms in the RF-module and boxed-radio-product categories in the market. RFM has earned a reputation for outstanding support of the integration of their OEM RF modules by customers with little or no RF expertise. "Design engineers looking for RF module solutions look to RFM first." The RFM OEM RF module portfolio includes ZigBee/802.15.4, proprietary mesh, proprietary FHSS, Bluetooth, and 802.11 b/g RF modules and boxed radios.
About QinetiQ
QinetiQ is a leading international defense and security technology company, with over 8000 employees in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Australasia) and more than 5500 in North America. QinetiQ's vision is to be the world's leading provider of defense- and security-based technology solutions and services. In the year to 31 March 2008, QinetiQ reported a 19% increase in revenue to £1366 million, including organic growth of 8.6%, and a 20% increase in underlying operating profit to £127 million. Underlying earnings per share increased by 19% to 13.4p per share.
About RFM
RF Monolithics Inc., headquartered in Dallas, TX, is a provider of solutions-driven, technology-enabled wireless connectivity for a broad range of wireless applications - from individual standard and custom components to modules for comprehensive industrial wireless sensor networks and M2M technology.