She's known as America's First Lady of Emerging Technologies and also operates as the Chief Technologist - Innovation (HLS) for IT giant HP. Here, Dr Satwant Kaur provides insights into the driving forces behind M2M.
A confluence of established and emerging technologies have enabled the modern world to be completely connected as never before. These innovations include M2M communications, which is a strong technology that has evolved greatly from the early days when one-on-one connections between machines dominated. These were proprietary, closed loop and local in nature. Now, every M2M device is IP-enabled and can talk to other machines anywhere in the world. That's the beauty of it. And high level M2M communication is one of the big technologies that has helped to create our world of never ending connectedness.
M2M devices and their innate power to communicate are transforming our lives, and our business. M2M devices incorporate embedded network communications technology that monitors and controls via direct communication with back-end systems. Machine-to-machine technologies are enabling both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other systems, devices, data acquisition and response systems. This emerging trend will bring about an exciting transformation in our lives.
We are looking at a future where embedded connectivity will become a way of life. Indeed it's happening now. Emerging devices are proliferating through the areas of automotive, remote monitoring, health care, electronics, smart homes, smart grid, NFC and smart metering. Most products in these spaces will have the ability to offer M2M communication across the Internet. So we are looking at a future where embedded connectivity will be a day-to-day way of life.
We are moving quickly into a world where a billion devices will connect everything from utility meters to connected cars. These M2M devices are capable of transmitting, processing and receiving vital data over the air. This gives us an opportunity to monitor and track all assets and service data in real-time, ensuring that assets have the latest updated software, automatically repair defects, deliver new features and services, and reduce the number of service dispatches.
An embedded system is any system that has intelligence built in for computing and decision making. The human 'system' is an example of the most complex and all other embedded systems will aim to mirror human characteristics. An intelligent environment uses a team of embedded systems, each with a designated function. Embedded systems are inescapable, but essential components of human life as well as contemporary culture, creating intelligent environments for energy, health and transportation, as well as robots in intelligent environments.
The advance of M2M technology is also catalysed by high bandwidth wireless networks such as 4G and LTE which have given us untethered access to unlimited bandwidth. Moreover, improved battery life is also key to being always-on and connected. And the cloud enables different devices to talk to each other by enabling remote, always-on connectivity anywhere in the world. Another emerging technology at play and in the M2M mix is the miniaturisation of computing devices. No longer is technology just handheld, we now have computer services in glasses and clothing. This miniaturisation is a key enabler of the connected world.
Machine-to-machine communications is all about sensors. If you can't sense anything there is nothing to communicate between devices. Also critical is the ever-growing number of applications that allow us to be more creative and innovative in, for example, key vertical markets including self driving cars, connected homes, connected medical care, connected wallets, connected prosthetics, connected energy and connected transportation (to name a few).
To illustrate the potential of M2M and seamless connectedness I will look closely at the smart energy grid vertical, which is made more efficient in operation through connected sensors, smart appliances and demand management, all enabled by technology. In this M2M world appliances become more meaningful and have the ability to be managed remotely within an environment where all areas of the grid are connected, including generators and energy storage hot spots. Using sensor technology the energy supply can be equalised across the grid to meet demand, self healing via connected sensors that make energy use more efficient.
The smart grid can help us reach the goal of clean air and energy independence by using renewable power such as wind and solar energy. Although renewable energy is an infinite energy source derived from the environment, its supply is intermittent, its availability is less predictable and its generation is outside human control compared to traditional power plants. The integration of renewable energy into the smart grid, supported by innovative energy storage, is the key to smooth out the various determining factors and achieve greater reliability in delivery. In this way, smart grids enable large portions of our power to be generated from renewable energy sources.
The smart grid incorporates a variety of technologies that extend the existing power grid to include buildings, homes and alternative energy sources, making energy management more efficient and reliable while reducing the operating costs of generation, transmission and the delivery of energy to consumers. Smart grid makes the most of existing transmission lines and existing power plants through technology innovation.
The major flaws with traditional power grid distribution are centralised power generation and long-haul distribution to consumers. In smart grids, transmission will be in both directions rather than the traditional 'one to many' broadcast in a downward direction. Smart grid brings together smart sensing, communication and control in energy systems and can be used in many applications.
Turning to the automotive sector, connected transportation enables vehicles to share information on their speed, direction, distance from other vehicles, thereby improving road safety (blind spot detection) and traffic management. M2M connectivity could also bring about collision detection and prevention, with information being fed to drivers who are unwittingly on a collision course. Because of the road safety aspect there is a high level of motivation to develop this facet of M2M technology further.
In terms of the self-driving car, the ability for an automobile to take instant reactions based on information that is computerised is already realised. Google cars have been on the road for some time. I would say this is happening much faster than we can even imagine. Beyond the current technology, roadways will one day wirelessly power electric cars. That's happening now in a limited fashion. In small sectors, wireless technology can deliver power to these vehicles. Today there is a great barrier, but the value of these potential technologies will crush anything that stands in their way.•
ABOUT DR SATWANT KAUR
Dr Satwant Kaur is Chief Technologist - Innovation (HLS) at HP and is hailed as the First Lady of Emerging Technologies by media in Silicon Valley and the industry worldwide. She is also known as the author of Amazon bestselle r Transitioning Embedded Systems to Intelligent Environments.
Dr Satwant Kaur, First Lady of Emerging Technologies, expresses her own personal views and opinions in all communications including all electronic, broadcast and print media formats. For more information email Satwant.Kaur@gmail.com or visit www.satwantkaur.com