PNI Sensor’s PlacePod is a surface-mount (SMT), IoT-enabled smart parking sensor that employs LoRa Technology to provide accurate vehicle detection in parking spaces. Described as both efficient and highly accurate component, the sensor enables a 10-year battery life and exhibits stable performance through temperature fluctuations in both benign and harsh environments.
Features
PlacePod includes a PNI RM3100 geomagnetic sensor that features proprietary magneto-inductive technology that the company claims to have more than 30X the sensitivity of comparable magnetic sensors. It has the unique ability to filter out electromagnetic interference, such as direct current from overhead power lines, alternating current from utility facilities, and transient magnetic pulses from passing traffic.
PlacePod sensors use Semtech’s LoRa chipset for long-range and low-power connectivity, underground sensing, extended battery life, and interoperability with IoT products and services. Optimization allows for the sensors and algorithms to be always on, which enables constant vehicle detection while maintaining low-power operation. Other parking sensors manage power consumption by putting themselves sleep mode, a period in which they cannot detect the presence or absence of a vehicle.
PlacePod sensors use Semtech’s LoRa chipset for long-range and low-power connectivity, underground sensing, extended battery life, and interoperability with IoT products and services.
In Operation
In collaboration with PNI and myDevices, Semtech installed PlacePod sensors in the electric vehicle parking spaces at its corporate headquarters and had the user notification interface live within three hours. The PNI sensors are connected to a private LPWAN deployed on the company’s campus. In operation, employees with electric vehicles receive real-time alerts from the myDevices IoT app when charging spots become available.
PlacePod in its polycarbonate housing
Additionally, the system is said to be easy to install, either in-ground or surface-mounted, in its polycarbonate housing. The PlacePod smart parking solution is available for sampling now, with general availability in Q1 2017. For more information, https://www.pnicorp.com/placepod or contact the company via email at [email protected]. Happy parking and charging. ~MD