Embracing Wireless Standard Technologies

One organisation pushing the use of open wireless standards is WAVE2M and Wavenis Open Standard Alliance.The various machines and systems involved in M2M (machine-to-machine) technology solutions have long suffered from a language or ‘standards’ barrier. Many different communication languages exist in M2M, which can make it difficult to integrate data from one machine to another and make them interoperable. With all the recent news about stimulus money and the nation's infrastructure, the smart grid has emerged as one of the biggest areas in the debate about standards. On May 18, 2009, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced significant progress toward development of a nationwide "smart" electric power grid. This new smart grid would use meters capable of two-way communication between the consumer and the utility. Pilots of this have now begun and smart meters and making it into many homes. The administration believes the development of the grid will create jobs and spur the development of innovative products that can be exported. Once implemented, the smart grid is expected to save consumers money and reduce the world’s dependence on foreign oil by improving efficiency and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.However, before the smart grid can be constructed, there needs to be agreement on standards for the devices that will connect the grid. After chairing a meeting of industry leaders at the White House, Locke and Chu announced the first set of standards that are needed for the interoperability and security of the smart grid and $10 million in Recovery Act funds provided by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington, D.C., to the National Institute of Standards and Technology from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington, D.C., to support the development of interoperability standards.One organisation pushing the use of ultra-low power, open standards is WAVE2M. WAVE2M uses the Wavenis technology and is designed as an ultra-low-power and long-range wireless communications, and it can be used for remote utility meter monitoring, among other applications.WAVE2M are currently in the process of developing their technology platform and building their community, which currently stands at 50+ members, including Orange, Elster, Sensus and Veolia Water.

Read more on the progress of a wireless standard and the development of smart grids and cities.