Zigbee Technology Applications. – May be some of you have been familiar with several wireless technologies. The technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are already a common term in everyday conversations.
This is supported with the fact that Bluetooth and WiFi are already applied in many products surrounding us, in the smartphone we are holding, in the infotaiment system of our car, in some appliances we’re using at home, and many more. However, wireless technology is not only limited to WiFi and Bluetooth. Some other technologies, which are relatively newer, they might still unseen, and not commonly recognized by user.
Statistic shows that the number of wireless technology application has significantly increased. And one of wireless technologies we’re talking about here is Zigbee. Not many people know about Zigbee, as it is considered as newer wireless. But in fact, the application of Zigbee technology are growing and reaches so many aspects of life.
So, in what aspects we can find Zigbee technology applications in it? Before answering this question, firstly we will talk about what Zigbee technology actually is. With the better understanding about it, we will be able to get the better understanding about the applications of this technology.
By the definition, Zigbee is a kind of wireless technology that is rooted in IEEE 802.15.4 standard. This technology was firstly conceived in 1998, but it was standardized in 2003. This standard got revised later in 2006. The name zigbee itself was inspired by the waggle dance by honey bees when they return to bee-hiving. Zigbee is mainly used to create high level protocols of communication for personal area network.
One unique thing about Zigbee’s personal area network is the fact that this network needs small and low powered digital radio. Therefore, the product equiped with Zigbee technology can manage to stay efficient in terms of energy use.
As a result of this low power-needed, the network transmission is limited in the range of 10-100 meters only. This range could be wider or narrower depending on the characteristic of the environment where the technology is applied. With these kinds of basic operation, Zigbee is believed to have simpler and much cheaper cost compare to the other WPANs (Wireless Personal Area Network).
Zigbee Technology Applications
Talking about Zigbee technology applications, we will find a red line between them. Most Zigbee technology is applied in the low data rate devices that require long battery life. This is related to the low-power aspect that Zigbee has, just like what we talked earlier.
Besides, Zignee network is also used in some devices that requires more secure network. This is due to the advance encryption that Zigbee technology offer. With 128 bit keys of symmetric encryption, people believe thay Zigbee technology can provide more secure network. Then, what are the common Zigbee technology applications in nowadayssetting? Here is some examples of it.
Applications of Zigbee Technology for Pollution Monitoring
One of Zigbee technology applications in nowadays setting is on pollution monitoring. Recently, many countries, almost all countries actually, are very vocal to achieve net-zero. They set different target time, but almost all of them wants to achieve it as soon as possible. One important aspect to achieve this is by cutting emission as well as decreasing pollution level in many areas around the world.
As we know, pollution has been the big problem especially in metropolitans around the world. This is a really serious problem since it can affect directly to the quality of life that these cities preserve to its citizen. Therefore, we need co decrease pollution in the city level and eradicate emission soon in an the most effective way.
Commonly, pollution monitoring is related to the micro-climate monitoring which obviously, requires many instruments and tools. However, some studies have shown that by using Zigbee based device, this micro-climate monitoring can be done in a simpler and more effective way. Simple example is by installing CO2 sensore in factory or automobile. What is measured by this sensor is ofcourse is the exhaust gasses emitted by automobile, automobile, or other industries.
CO2 sensor will measure the number of gases emitted automatically. The data from this measurement will be delivered to the microcontroller, and when this data exceeds the predefined limit, there will be alert from microcontroller to the buzzer that will trigger the engine to automatically stop.
Why do we need to use Zigbee Technology Applications here, it is because Zigbee sensor needs relatively low power. And because these sensors need to work all the time 24 hours and 7 days a week, so it needs a wireless technology that require as low power as possible. Therefore, users doesn’t have to change its battery too often.
Zigbee Applications Home Automation
Homeautomation maybe a new thing for developing countries. But for some developed countries with a good technology penetration, automating home is a common thing. Home automation is a really main supportive aspect of Internet of Things (IoT). This is why many manufacturers keep producing products that work with home automation principle.
The idea of home automation is to connect many product used at home such as appliance, lighting, and security system in a network that is accessible by the home owner. Therefore, home owner can control these from the system remotely. Besides controlled things, home automation also relay on automatic things such as curtain that can close by itself at night, or lamp that wil turn on automatically at night,
To achieve that, we need to create a network infrastructure that can connect those items in our home. And one technology that can provide such network is Zigbee. In home automationn, Zigbee offers simpler and easier installation, stronger security, more interoperable operation, and affordable price. With all those benefits, Zigbee will ba able to be used in controlling lighting, appliances, security, energy management, and other aspects of home automation.
Moreover, other benefits will also comes along with Zigbee technology applications. They are low cost needed due to the low power it requires and more environmental friendly technology. Overall, with this Zigbee Technology applications, you’ll get your smart home smarter.
Zigbee Applications in Agriculture
One of the important fields of nowadays life is agriculture. The agriculture system will provide many benefits for our life especially for food sustainability. Moreover, the success of agriculture sector in a country is also affecting the whole aspects inside such as economy, health, environment, and others. This is why we should keep the agriculture in balance with modernization of a country. This is where Zigbee technology applications take part in doing it.
The main role of Zigbee technology in agriculture is especially on boosting the automation. For example, with automation that Zigbee offer, it could be applied in some agricultural sensor. So, we can maintain something like irrigation, temperature control, humidity, soil content, and others crop-related aspects automatically.
Zigbee Technology applications in agriculture will involve many sensors, main PC control, and Zigbee module. This module can be used in data transferring from the sensors or microcontroller to main PC. Therefore, all of the agricultural process can run effectively and efficiently.
Zigbee Industrial Automation
Industrial sector may be the one that will use Zigbee technology in such a big scale. Especially when nowadays this sector needs to comply with so many standards, automation can be the best answer. With minimum risk and error that may caused by human, automation will take industrial sector to the next level of it, to achieve target, and to fulfill what society needs. And here is where we employ Zigbee technology applications.
One of Zigbee specialties is that it is designed for low cost applications. Moreover, it’s also suited to the low power consumption with mesh network topology. These are the characteristics that will be suited to the automation system in the factory floor.
While for the example of possibility for Zigbee technology applications in industry, some of them can be seen in remote monitoring and switching, distribution control, supervisory, and data transfer. Compare to the other kinds of wireless technology such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Zigbee for industrial will be cheaper, more suited to the environment, and easier applications.
Compliance
Just like other wireless technology, Zigbee needs to comply to local regulation where the product will be marketed. Even though Zigbee uses relatively the same frequency, which is in the range of 2.4 GHz wireless technology, but the characteristics in each country can be different.
For example, in Europe it has EN standard like EN 300 328 that needs to be fulfilled. Or in USA, Zigbee needs to comply with FCC regulations. While in Indonesia (SDPPI Approval), it is SDPPI regulation that needs to follow. Currently SDPPI puts Zigbee in Short Range Device classification operating in 2.4 GHz bands.
Therefore, for manufacturer, importer, or distributors who wants to market their Zigbee-based products, they need to pay attention on getting their product certified by SDPPI prior to the sales activity. On the opposite side, buyer also needs to pay attention on the Zigbee products that they buy.
Make sure it has compliance sign which is usually indicated on the label. If the Zigbee product has SDPPI Label affixed on the product or on thepackaging, then it’s good for purchase because this means that the product is already legal, and safe to use.
Conclusion
Overall, with this Zigbee Technology Applications, we believe it can take us on to thebetter and controlled life. One thing for certain, there will be many things get easier and more effective by these Zigbee technology applications.
That’s all. Hopefully, this writing will be educating for those who are curious about Zigbee. If you have other ideas, just drop it in the comment session below. And if you find this article is informative, sharing it in to your personal page or siocial media will be much more appreciated. Cheers!