An IoT Measurement System Based on LoRaWAN for Additive Manufacturing.

Area of Science:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
• Wireless Sensor Networks
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) leverages smart sensors and low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs) for innovative measurement systems.
• LoRaWAN (Long Range WAN) is a prominent LPWAN technology, optimized for low energy consumption, long-range coverage, and cost-effective deployment.
• Additive manufacturing, a key IIoT component, requires advanced measurement capabilities for in-process monitoring and environmental assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of LoRa-based smart sensors embedded within artifacts during additive manufacturing.
• To evaluate the performance of these sensors post-deployment, focusing on energy consumption and long-range operation.
• To assess the suitability of LoRaWAN technology for monitoring embedded sensors in inaccessible IIoT applications.

Main Methods:

• Experimental evaluation of two LoRa end-nodes: Microchip RN2483 LoRa Mote and Tinovi PM-IO-5-SM LoRaWAN IO Module.
• Embedding sensors within artifacts during the early stages of the production phase.
• Assessing sensor behavior and performance in their final deployed location.

Main Results:

• Analysis of energy consumption patterns for embedded LoRa sensors.
• Evaluation of the long-range communication capabilities of the LoRaWAN network in the target application.
• Assessment of the overall effectiveness and suitability of the LoRa-based sensor network design.

Conclusions:

• LoRa-based sensor networks show promise for IIoT applications, particularly when embedded in manufactured artifacts.
• Energy optimization and reliable long-range connectivity are critical for the success of inaccessible embedded sensor systems.
• The study provides insights into battery life prediction and connectivity range for practical LoRaWAN deployments in additive manufacturing.