IoT Devices Chirp to Communicate

IoT (Internet of Things) devices communicate using Bluetooth, WiFi or cellular connectivity.

15:05 15 December 2017

But what happens if none of these are available? Well, IoT devices can communicate by chirping.

 

A chirp is a signal in which the frequency either increases or decreases with time. It works by encoding the data using a series of pitches and tones on the sending device, and then decoded on the receiving device. Chirps may be in a form of an ultrasound (silent), but they may also be audible.

 

By using chirp to communicate, IoT devices are able to conserve power, which will allow them to work for extended periods of time without the need of being recharged frequently. It also allows sensors and other devices to communicate with IoT devices that are installed at a later time without requiring reconfiguration.

 

The technology has many applications. It is currently used by Shuttl, a popular Indian bus service. Using chirp, passengers can send chirp signal from their phone to the conductor even without cellular or WiFi connectivity on the bus.

 

Cofounder Deepanshu Malviya, said: "Detecting authorized boarding is extremely important for us from a safety standpoint. Unlike a regular bus, where a conductor checks whether someone has bought a ticket, we were looking to completely automate it making manual intervention obsolete,"