LoRa Alliance® announces to expands the coverage with battery operated relay for LPWANs

The LoRa Alliance®, the global community of businesses which supports the open LoRaWAN® standard for internet of things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs) has announced on October 03, to expand the LoRaWAN link-layer standard with the inclusion of a relay specification. A contender approach to achieve robust network coverage in challenging environments will be battery-operated relays that will be easy-to-deploy network coverage extensions at a minimal cost of deploying additional gateways. The battery-operated relay will be low powered, and standards-based approach enabling LoRaWAN to provide exceptional deep interior or subterranean coverage. Furthermore, it will also serve as relay data on nearby satellite-connected LoRaWAN devices.

Although the LoRaWAN standard has establish itself for long-distance communications but there might be physical constraints where LPWAN communications may not reach(it includes turns, underground). The signal can be be reflected/relayed into a specified area. However, LoRaWAN relays now enable signals to travel where they could not previously. The document LoRaWAN TS011-1.0.0 LoRaWAN Relay Specification outlines the relaying technique used to carry LoRaWAN frames bi-directionally between an end-device and a gateway/network server through a battery-powered node. In case of gateway’s insufficient coverage, the device can be set to relay, it will transport LoRaWAN frames between an end-device and the network.

This specification allows network coverage expansion using battery-powered relay while retaining protocol and security compatible with the LoRaWAN Link-Layer standard. The new relay nodes are battery-powered and can be deployed anywhere without the necessity of electricity or internet access making them relatively simple, cost-effective, and power efficient approach to enhance network coverage without the requirement for additional gateways.

Tesla plans to launch its own EV diagnostics system as an OBD alternative by 2023

n March 10, 2022, it was published that Tesla will launch its own EV-tailored car diagnostics and error reporting system in South Korea in October of next year as an alternative to the widely established OBD standard. South Korea will serve as a pilot for Tesla’s EV self-diagnostics standard and is expected to expand globally from there, in later stages. Tesla has been granted an exception from the OBD standard requirements in Europe, China, and Japan. However, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KTSA) is pushing for the adoption of the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) standard for local inspections but Tesla has been in conflict with authorities and has refused to utilize OBD on its newest vehicles (the Model S/X have an OBDII plug).

The self-diagnostic capability of Tesla has raised credibility doubts with a fear that they can paper over major engineering flaws or glitches. As per the business insider: “Credibility of inspection outcomes through the Tesla-designated knowledge server shall be low because the carmaker can manipulate the information upfront. Whereas many Korean shoppers nonetheless clearly keep in mind the ‘2015 dieselgate’ by Volkswagen during which the German carmaker manipulated exhaust emissions to move the take a look at, Tesla ought to discover a truthful, credible method to assure car’s security as an alternative of relying by itself know-how,”

According to market analysts, Tesla’s self-diagnostic capabilities may appear creative, but given the rigorous safety checks for electric vehicles in general owing to potential concerns with the high-voltage battery pack, Tesla should figure out a compromise with the local authorities.