Building low-cost gateways and

devices for open LoRa IoT test-

beds!
!

EAI TridentCom’16!
Hangzhou, China,!
June 14th, 2016!

Prof. Congduc Pham!

http://www.univ-pau.fr/~cpham!
Université de Pau, France!
!
Time for presentation!

is about 20 minutes!

2

Sensing/IoT/Telemetry
systems!

deployment made easier in

single-hop model !!!

gateway

15-20km

3

IoT nodes: how costly is
transmission?!

200-500mA 500-1000mA 100-300mA

4

Low-power and long-
range?!

Energy

Enhanced from M. Dohler “M2M in SmartCities” 5

 Low Power WAN (LPWAN) ?!
Tables from Semtech

200-500mA 500-1000mA 100-300mA 18mA 18mA

6

 Versatile LPWAN!!

Dense urban areas Rural areas

Indoor Underground

7

 Deploying your LPWAN
network!

Operator-based Privately-based
approach (with approach!
subscription)!

Multi-Tech
Conduit DIY low-
cost
gateway

Kerlink
IoT Station

8

IoT for rural applications in
developping countries!

q WAZIUP is an EU H2020 project (2016-2019)

q contributes to long-range networks for rural
applications with WP2
Open)IoT)sensing)and)
Prepara&on) communica&on)
and)planning) pla;orm)(WP2))
that)responded)
to)users)need)
(WP1)) Open)big)data)
applica&on)pla;orm)
(WP3))

User)acceptance)and)business)model)(WP5))

Building)sustainable)innova&on)community)and)ecosystem)(WP6)))

Project)coordina&on)and)innova&on)management)(WP7)))
9

Typical scenarios!

15-20km

10

 Low-cost LoRa gateways!

q Commercial gateways
q Target large-scale
LoRadeployment scenarios
modules from
q Use advanced radio concentrators
Semtech’s and
SX127x chips! cost
hundredth of euros or dollars
Libelium LoRa is based on
Semtech SX1272 LoRa
863-870 MHz for Europe

q Low-cost gateways can be built for medium-

DORJI DRF1278DM is
based on Semtech
SX1278 LoRa 433MHz
inAir9/9B based
on SX1276

scale ad-hoc deployment scenarios

Froggy Factory LoRa
module (Arduino)
IMST IM880A-L is based on
Semtech SX1272 LoRa
LinkLabs 863-870 MHz for Europe

q Use regular SX1272/76 chip for « single connection »

HopeRF
RFM
series
HopeRF HM-
TRLR-D
Symphony module
Embit LoRa

from end-devices to the gateway Adeunis ARF8030AA- Lo868 Microship RN2483

habSupplies

q Use off-the-shelves embedded UNIX platforms for much

AMIHO AM093

lower-cost and easy customization

Multi-Tech
MultiConnect mDot
31!
ARM-Nano N8 LoRa
module from ATIM
SODAQ LoRaBee
Embit
SODAQ LoRaBee
RN2483

q Use standard UNIX tools and high-level language for

maximum flexibility and evolution

11

Raspberry-based LoRa
gateway!
We can use all model of Raspberry. The most important usefull
feature is the Ethernet interface for easy Internet connection.
Then WiFi and Bluetooth can be added with USB dongles.
RPI3 provides built-in Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth!

12

 Our Low-Cost gateway
architecture!
Most of user or
Kept as simple post- user/app-

high-level lang.
application specific
as possible processing specific

e.g. python
logics is done here!
We provide some
basic features, up to
you to enhance them lora_gateway program
radio stdout! post stdout!
bridge processing Long-range radio lib
program stdin!

ArduPi lib

Raspbian

13

 Transparent LoRa bridge!

T=23°!
Node 10! radio stdout!
bridge
H=85%! program
Node 3!

> sudo ./lora_gateway!

Power ON: state 0!
LoRa mode: 4!
Setting mode: state 0!
Channel CH_10_868: state 0!
Power M: state 0!
Get Preamble Length: state 0!
Preamble Length: 8!
LoRa addr 1 : state 0!
SX1272/76 configured as LR-BS. Waiting RF input for transparent RF-serial bridge!
!
--- rxlora. dst=1 type=0x10 src=10 seq=0 len=5 SNR=9 RSSIpkt=-54!
^p1,16,10,0,5,9,-54!
T=23°!
--- rxlora. dst=1 type=0x10 src=3 seq=0 len=5 SNR=8 RSSIpkt=-54!
^p1,16,3,0,5,8,-54!
H=85%!
!

14

 Log received messages
using cloud services!
\$T=23°!
Node 10! radio stdout! post
bridge processing
\&H=85%! program stdin!
Node 3!

> sudo ./lora_gateway | python ./post_processing_gw.py!

Power ON: state 0!
LoRa mode: 4!
Setting mode: state 0!
Channel CH_10_868: state 0!
Power M: state 0! \$ or \& before the data indicates that the
Get Preamble Length: state 0! data should be logged on a file or server. It is
Preamble Length: 8! up to the end-device to decide which option
LoRa addr 1 : state 0!
SX1272/76 configured as LR-BS. Waiting RF input for transparent RF-serial bridge!
!
--- rxlora. dst=1 type=0x10 src=10 seq=0 len=5 SNR=9 RSSIpkt=-54!
Rcv ctrl packet info 1,16,10,0,5,9,-54!
(dst=1 type=0x10 src=10 seq=0 len=5 SNR=9 RSSI=-54)!
rcv msg to log (\$) on dropbox : T=23°!
--- rxlora. dst=1 type=0x10 src=3 seq=0 len=5 SNR=8 RSSIpkt=-54!
Rcv ctrl packet info 1,16,3,0,5,8,-54!
(dst=1 type=0x10 src=3 seq=0 len=5 SNR=8 RSSI=-54)!
rcv msg to log (\&) on firebase : H=85%!
! 15

IoT cloud?!

16

Templates for various
clouds!

17

Running without internet
access!

Isolated areas

18

 Powerfull ucontroller
boards getting smaller…!
http://blog.atmel.com/2015/12/16/
rewind-50-of-the-best-boards-from-2015/
Arduino Pro Mini
http://blog.atmel.com/2015/04/09/25-dev-
boards-to-help-you-get-started-on-your-
next-iot-project/

Teensy 3.2

STM32 Nucleo-32

Theairboard on kickstarter Tinyduino 19

…and cheaper !!!!

20

 SW/HW building blocks!

Ideetron Nexus Teensy3.1/3.2

LoRa radios that

our library already
HopeRF Modtronix NiceRF
supports Libelium LoRa
RFM92W/95W inAir9/9B LoRa1276

Long-Range communication library

sendPacketTimeout(”18.5”);!
// sends to gateway!
// 18.5 : temperature message!
1 send function!
21

 Physical Physical Physical
sensor sensor sensor
reading reading reading

Physical Activity duty-

sensor cycle, low
management power

Long-range Logical sensor

Security
transmission management

22

 Running for 1 year with
low-power mode!!
Low-Power library from RocketScream

Wakes-up every
10min, take a
measure (temp) and
Can run for 100 days with 1 send to GW
measure/10min

Can run for 1 year with 1

2500mAh
measure/1h

146µA in deep
sleep mode,
93mA when active
and sending
Thanks to T. Mesplou and P. Plouraboué for their help 23

 Out-of-the-box
surveillance!

https://github.com/CongducPham/LowCostLoRaGw
24

 Build your own test-bed!

Command Action
/@M1# 0set0LoRa0mode01

q Interactive end-device /@C12# 0use0channel012

/@PL/H/M/x/X# 0set0power0to0Low,0High,0Max,0extreme0(PA_BOOST),0eXtreme0(+20dBm)
/@A9# 0set0node0addr0to09
/@ACK#hello0w/ack00sends0"hello0w/ack"0and0request0an0ACK
/@ACKON# 0enables0ACK0(for0all0messages)
/@ACKOFF# 0disables0ACK
/@CAD# 0performs0an0SIFS0CAD,0i.e.030or060CAD0depending0on0the0LoRa0mode
Hello world!
/@CADON3# 0uses030CAD0when0sending0data0(normally0SIFS0is030or060CAD,0DIFS=3SIFS)
/@CADOFF# 0disables0CAD0(IFS)0when0sending0data
/@RSSI# 0toggles0checking0of0RSSI0before0transmission0and0after0CAD
/@EIFS# 0toggles0for0extended0IFS0wait
/@T5000# 0send0a0message0at0regular0time0interval0of05000ms.0Use0/@T0#0to0disable0periodic0sending
/@TR5000# 0send0a0message0at0random0time0interval0between0[2000,05000]ms.
/@Z200# 0sets0the0packet0payload0size0to02000for0periodic0sending
/@S50# 0sends0a050B0user0payload0packet0filled0with0'#'.0The0real0size0is055B0with0the0protocol0header
/@D56# 0set0the0destination0node0to0be056,0this0is0permanent,0until0the0next0D0command
/@D56#hello 0send0"hello"0to0node056,0destination0addr0is0only0for0this0message
/@D1#/@M1# 0send0the0command0string0"/@M1#"0to0node010(i.e.0gateway)

/@ACK#hello
You can get
SNR of both
uplink and
downlink

/@ACK#/@M2#
GW switches to
Switch yourself to
250KHz,SF12
250KHz,SF12 /@M1#
Test whether GW
/@ACK#hello is still reachable 25

 TEST ADVANCED
CHANNEL ACCESS!

q Implement & test channel access methods

q SIFS=xCAD; DIFS=3SIFS; set x with /@CADONx#
q Use background traffic generator devices
q /@T2000# or /@TR5000#
Successful CAD W Random wait #CAD [1..8]
RSSI < -90dBm
Unsuccessful CAD W Random wait #DIFS [1..8]

WAIT DIFS [1..8]

E-IFS E-IFS
Di DIFS 7 CAD
DIFS DIFS DIFS 3 DIFS
DATA

Dj DIFS 5
CAD DIFS
DATA Enabled with /@RSSI#
Extended IFS

Enabled with /@EIFS#

26

TEST IMAGING SYSTEM!

1 247m

2 332m

3 520m

4 870m

2100m
5 940m
27

 TEST QUALITY OF SERVICE
MECHANISMS!

4 G AT=360000
4
4 4 4
REG:%36000%% device% RAT% lastRAT% l RAT =0 r ATU =l TAT −l RAT 0
D4%
INIT:%10,%
100%%%
360000,% adcast%%
bro
D4%
…%
36000% 36000%
D4 local   …
remote%%%
local% …%
l 4
RAT = 36000 device RAT lastRAT
36000
4 4
l =r =0 D4 4 = -3196
TAT ATU
lRAT 0 -3196
240% 240% 240% 240% 40%
AT 4 = −3196 − 36000 = −39196
LH%of%5B%%
IH%of%7B% 252% 252% 252% 252% 52% UPDT  w/RATU   39196   4 nd=2   3196   5 6
DATA%header%3B% DATA:%268
50%% G5AT=360000 – 39196+3196=324000
DATA:%177
ToA(255)=9150ms%
00%%
DATA:%855
0%
D5 local   …
DATA%w/R
ATU:%600%% 5
DATA%w/R lRAT = 36000 −1598 = 34402ms
ATU:%3196
ToA(55)=2596ms%
%% G AT=360000 – 39196+3196=324000
6

4
lRAT =0 4
rATU = 3196
AT 4 = −3196 − 36000 = −39196 D6 local   …
device% RAT% lastRAT%
local% …% 6
lRAT = 36000 −1598 = 34402ms
D4% P3196% 36000%
6 P3196% G AT=360000 – 39196=320804
j

…
4
lTAT = ∑ToA(Sm4 ) 2,%5,%6%%%
m=1
%w/R AT U:%39196,%
4,%3196,%
ro a d ca st%% Dj≠4 local  
= 39196 UPDT b

28

WHO IS DEPLOYING TEST—
BEDS?!
https://github.com/CongducPham/LowCostLoRaGw

29

 Conclusions!

q Low-power, long-range transmission is a break-

through technology for IoT and large-scale
deployment of wireless (sensor) devices
q Coupled with low-cost, off-the-shelves hardware,
IoT design is entering the DIY era
q The whole IoT eco-system is becoming mature
with availability of IoT clouds and advanced big
data analytic platforms/frameworks
q Deploying low-cost, long-range test-beds is
important prior to any application deployment:
our framework allows both out-of-the-box
deployment and more research-oriented studies
30