The connected world using Internet of Things (IoT) technology is helping to make the ski season safer for all. With the season soon coming to a close and winter sports fans are taking to the slopes to make the most of what remains of the snow, a Swiss company based at the foot of the Alps that develops avalanche control solutions Wyssen announced on Monday that it is integrating into its devices a highly resilient IoT connectivity solution from PodsystemM2M, a vendor of IoT connectivity.
Wyssen’s solution has been designed to detect and prevent avalanches using various monitoring systems such as radars, infrasound sensors and geophones, and artificial triggering techniques with explosive charges. Wyssen designs and manufactures avalanche towers, which are solar powered and fitted with a deployment box holding the battery, electronics and the charges.
A sophisticated algorithm in combination with sensors are used to provide an early warning of increasing avalanche activity in a given area based on detection of infrasound emissions. All the data monitored by the towers, including feedback from weather stations, results from radar installations and sensors and footage from the cameras is sent to a central control centre where it can be analysed. Should action be required, an explosive charge can be detonated once it is confirmed no humans are in the danger area.
PodsystemM2M is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) specializing in global data connectivity solutions for the M2M/IoT market. Its comprehensive range of products and services helps companies to develop resilient, future-proof M2M/IoT solutions. The flexibility, control, support, and customer service offers customers to get to market faster and grow their businesses.
Due to the remote nature of the towers and the need for resilient, mission critical connectivity, Wyssen has decided to integrate best signal, multi-network SIM cards into its devices.
The PodsystemM2M solution has been designed with these requirements in mind, including global connectivity across multiple networks on one SIM card, connection to the best signal on device start-up and the ability to automatically swap to a back-up network if signal is lost, giving the most reliable and flexible coverage for Wyssen´s devices wherever they may be situated.
“The flexibility of the Podsystem M2M SIM card was paramount, explains Bejamin Meier, engineer at Wyssen. We wanted a single SIM card, interchangeable for each device that makes up our system. This makes management of the SIMs simple and straightforward.”
“Wyssen´s solution is an excellent example of how the IoT and Big Data can help improve our lives,” said Charles Towers-Clark, Managing Director of Podsystem Ltd. “The combination of Wyssen’s state-of-the-art technology with PodsystemM2M’s connectivity which has been specially designed for remote and mission critical IoT applications, will result in a highly resilient solution that will help to save lives on the slopes.”
