Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Hiberband (The low-power global area network enabling affordable and ubiquitous connectivity for the Internet of Things)
Reporting period: 2021-06-01 to 2021-09-30
Problem and importance to society:
IoT brings together physical objects that never been connected before, creating vast amounts of data. However, only a fraction is currently exploited, as many sensors are not connected to networks due to lack of coverage, high cost and installation complexity. The growth in IoT applications has been so far supported by terrestrial networks, as current satellite networks are too expensive and power-hungry to play a meaningful role. However, terrestrial networks only provide access to densely populated areas and therefore only cover 10% of earth’s surface. This leaves a gap in 90% of the world, which prevents the use of IoT applications in many industries where activity takes place in less-densely populated areas.
Objective:
Hiberband is a new IoT connectivity platform that combines the low cost and low power consumption of terrestrial networks with the ubiquity of satellite coverage. Hiberband provides affordable global IoT connectivity, with ultra-low power consumption, intuitive installation and simple service provisioning, to support IoT in rural & remote areas. Our vision is to bridge the IoT digital divide: Hiberband will provide easy-to-use, low-cost, low-power connectivity for the IoT, yielding insights from assets anywhere in the world. These insights will enable entire industries to function more effectively, improving the lives and livelihoods of people globally.
The project specific objectives have been structured into two areas:
● Improve current technology and develop new supporting hardware
● Launch additional satellites and build new ground stations to increase capacity and service levels
IoT brings together physical objects that never been connected before, creating vast amounts of data. However, only a fraction is currently exploited, as many sensors are not connected to networks due to lack of coverage, high cost and installation complexity. The growth in IoT applications has been so far supported by terrestrial networks, as current satellite networks are too expensive and power-hungry to play a meaningful role. However, terrestrial networks only provide access to densely populated areas and therefore only cover 10% of earth’s surface. This leaves a gap in 90% of the world, which prevents the use of IoT applications in many industries where activity takes place in less-densely populated areas.
Objective:
Hiberband is a new IoT connectivity platform that combines the low cost and low power consumption of terrestrial networks with the ubiquity of satellite coverage. Hiberband provides affordable global IoT connectivity, with ultra-low power consumption, intuitive installation and simple service provisioning, to support IoT in rural & remote areas. Our vision is to bridge the IoT digital divide: Hiberband will provide easy-to-use, low-cost, low-power connectivity for the IoT, yielding insights from assets anywhere in the world. These insights will enable entire industries to function more effectively, improving the lives and livelihoods of people globally.
The project specific objectives have been structured into two areas:
● Improve current technology and develop new supporting hardware
● Launch additional satellites and build new ground stations to increase capacity and service levels
D1.1 Develop new modulation software
The uplink modulating signal was assessed and no changes are necessary. The downlink modulating signal is changed due to the better sensitivity characteristics at the demodulator. The same hardware is used for demodulation and the signal is designed in such a way that the demodulator demodulates with minimal degradation. No strict compliance to the IEEE standard is necessary, as Hiber has control over the complete communications.
D1.2 Improve encryption standard to AIS-256bit
The scope of the security analysis considered the lifecycle of a single message from its creation within a pre-registered CN deployed in the field, its uplink and storage aboard one of Hiber’s satellites, its downlink through one of Hiber’s ground stations, and its ingestion in the customer facing web service. The analysis compared implementing a higher entropy version of the same encryption approach, over Hiber’s end-to-end pipeline.
The conclusion is: AES256 GCM is theoretically more difficult to attack, it is considered infeasible to brute force an attack on AES-128 GCM, even with emerging quantum computing capabilities. Also, the decryption computational burden has a direct, scalable cost increase associated with it, and that the additional security is not appropriate for the tangible cost incurred by implementing it.
D1.3 Develop 2way communications for commercial purposes
Hiber has established the basics for 2-way communication. The addition of OTA updates opened several doors, such as the ability to perform updates in the field, to enable bug fixes and further development after deployment. Hiber implemented a standardized protocol for large data transfer and aggregation, which can easily be reused in other projects. Last is that we made progress in contiguous message reception, significantly increasing potential throughput.
D1.4 Develop demodulation software and onboard processing
The demodulator was improved to accommodate Doppler accelerations tracking. An improvement was achieved, only just shy of the performance of the channel coding scheme. The onboard demodulator algorithm has been developed and trialled successfully on hardware. Multiple access simulations show the feasibility of the demodulator in concurrent operation.
D2.1 Develop more power efficient and signals with higher signal to noise ratio from communication node
During the project phase it was confirmed that CN2 meets the requirement stated in the objectives. It is required to field test CN2 more intensively and go through a pilot customer phase where CN2 can have more feedback for improvement.
D2.2 Develop more effective antennas
Several different antennas have been trialled. One of the antennas has proven to be the most robust choice, with a high degree of similarity in performance within batch, a satisfactory gain and antenna pattern, a medium price point and a resilient form factor.
D3.1 New satellite production
Hiber has assembled, integrated and tested two new satellites, at their own office. Various lessons learned are implemented in the next-generation design, which has been prepared during the grant project.
D3.2 New satellite launch
Hiber booked various dedicated launch vehicles to launch its satellites. Throughout the project, covid-19 has significantly delayed and even bankrupted several companies. Hiber opted to reduce launch risks by piggybacking with traditional launchers, resulting in the launch of two satellites in early 2021. All other launches have been delayed beyond the project timeline.
D3.3. Constellation management software
With multiple satellites in orbit, the constellation management software could be further improved and updated to automatically act upon warning signals for potential collision.
D3.4 New ground station deployment
As the new satellites have a different communication system onboard, the ground stations have been updated to be able to communicate with the new satellites, both by hardware and software upgrades.
D4.1 Second generation gateway design
The gateway allows to gather data from small, low power IoT devices and sends data via satellites to mission control, where customers can see and act upon the insights exploited. The new generation has lower cost, better design and is easier to mount and install, increasing ease of use for future deployments. Also, the certification of the hardware for key markets have been accomplished.
D4.2 New Hiberhub device
In line with market research, there is not a silver bullet when it comes to IoT solutions. Hiber has opted to develop a platform to serve most use cases that were seen. The generic IoT tracking device can track any kind of asset anywhere. The minimum viable product has been installed at customer locations and further improvements have been implemented to now launch the product commercially.
The uplink modulating signal was assessed and no changes are necessary. The downlink modulating signal is changed due to the better sensitivity characteristics at the demodulator. The same hardware is used for demodulation and the signal is designed in such a way that the demodulator demodulates with minimal degradation. No strict compliance to the IEEE standard is necessary, as Hiber has control over the complete communications.
D1.2 Improve encryption standard to AIS-256bit
The scope of the security analysis considered the lifecycle of a single message from its creation within a pre-registered CN deployed in the field, its uplink and storage aboard one of Hiber’s satellites, its downlink through one of Hiber’s ground stations, and its ingestion in the customer facing web service. The analysis compared implementing a higher entropy version of the same encryption approach, over Hiber’s end-to-end pipeline.
The conclusion is: AES256 GCM is theoretically more difficult to attack, it is considered infeasible to brute force an attack on AES-128 GCM, even with emerging quantum computing capabilities. Also, the decryption computational burden has a direct, scalable cost increase associated with it, and that the additional security is not appropriate for the tangible cost incurred by implementing it.
D1.3 Develop 2way communications for commercial purposes
Hiber has established the basics for 2-way communication. The addition of OTA updates opened several doors, such as the ability to perform updates in the field, to enable bug fixes and further development after deployment. Hiber implemented a standardized protocol for large data transfer and aggregation, which can easily be reused in other projects. Last is that we made progress in contiguous message reception, significantly increasing potential throughput.
D1.4 Develop demodulation software and onboard processing
The demodulator was improved to accommodate Doppler accelerations tracking. An improvement was achieved, only just shy of the performance of the channel coding scheme. The onboard demodulator algorithm has been developed and trialled successfully on hardware. Multiple access simulations show the feasibility of the demodulator in concurrent operation.
D2.1 Develop more power efficient and signals with higher signal to noise ratio from communication node
During the project phase it was confirmed that CN2 meets the requirement stated in the objectives. It is required to field test CN2 more intensively and go through a pilot customer phase where CN2 can have more feedback for improvement.
D2.2 Develop more effective antennas
Several different antennas have been trialled. One of the antennas has proven to be the most robust choice, with a high degree of similarity in performance within batch, a satisfactory gain and antenna pattern, a medium price point and a resilient form factor.
D3.1 New satellite production
Hiber has assembled, integrated and tested two new satellites, at their own office. Various lessons learned are implemented in the next-generation design, which has been prepared during the grant project.
D3.2 New satellite launch
Hiber booked various dedicated launch vehicles to launch its satellites. Throughout the project, covid-19 has significantly delayed and even bankrupted several companies. Hiber opted to reduce launch risks by piggybacking with traditional launchers, resulting in the launch of two satellites in early 2021. All other launches have been delayed beyond the project timeline.
D3.3. Constellation management software
With multiple satellites in orbit, the constellation management software could be further improved and updated to automatically act upon warning signals for potential collision.
D3.4 New ground station deployment
As the new satellites have a different communication system onboard, the ground stations have been updated to be able to communicate with the new satellites, both by hardware and software upgrades.
D4.1 Second generation gateway design
The gateway allows to gather data from small, low power IoT devices and sends data via satellites to mission control, where customers can see and act upon the insights exploited. The new generation has lower cost, better design and is easier to mount and install, increasing ease of use for future deployments. Also, the certification of the hardware for key markets have been accomplished.
D4.2 New Hiberhub device
In line with market research, there is not a silver bullet when it comes to IoT solutions. Hiber has opted to develop a platform to serve most use cases that were seen. The generic IoT tracking device can track any kind of asset anywhere. The minimum viable product has been installed at customer locations and further improvements have been implemented to now launch the product commercially.
Hiber has developed end-to-end solutions based on space connectivity. These solutions have been launched in the media with great success. The HiberHilo solution for the energy market has been installed with various customers and solves well integrity challenges on a global scale. HiberHeavy monitors heavy equipment and vehicles both in the mining and logistic markets, improving fuel efficiency and vehicle driving behaviours. The latest solutions launched is the HiberEasypulse, a generic IoT tracking device. These solutions have been developed within the project timeframe and all align with our sustainability vision of IoT. Several other solutions and use cases have been tested over time as well, but with less impact. The company has grown to 70+ employees within Europe.