One of USR IOT's customers is a professional solution provider whose core business is providing solutions for the growing network remote monitoring and management. One of the more mature areas they have done is remote monitoring of urban water supply. The detection system they built is used to collect data on municipal water consumption, and to measure water level, water quality, water consumption and data in the peak water use period. In addition, they can also remotely detect leaks, or bursts in water pipes, so as to automatically cut off the water supply in the accident area.

 

Their other key business is highway lighting control and energy monitoring. This includes illuminating traffic signs and lanes based on brightness. In addition to this, power supply and third-party systems, such as early warning systems for ice and snow roads, are also monitored in this case.

 

 

Their key business has one thing in common – data is transmitted to a central process control system over a secure and reliable wireless network. Water supply infrastructure is often located in relatively remote areas, without a wired network. The same is true for the highway system. The cost of laying the network cable is high, and it will hinder the situation, causing security risks.

 

 

This is why they use industrial routers. These devices establish a VPN connection to the central process control system on the mobile network. Through this VPN tunnel, data can be transmitted securely without the need for a fixed line.

 

 

Background

In order to reliably transfer the collected data from the field to the central process control system, devices of USR IOT connected to the network must meet the following requirements:

 

Use of mobile networks

Establish a VPN tunnel by using Open VPN

Possibility of connecting PLC

Can be used in industrial fields

 

Solutions

In order to meet the above requirements, USR IOT uses the USR-G781 of the 4G industrial router series. They are suitable for applications that require robustness.

They have highly resistance to interference and safety standard, which are suitable for temperatures from 10 ° C to -90 ° C. These devices can be quickly mounted on a DIN rail with integrated mounting clips.

USR-G781 enables robust communication in any fixed line that is too impractical, too expensive, or even usable.

 

For even greater flexibility, the device has an Ethernet port that can be configured separately. To connect the sensor, USR-G781 is equipped with two isolated binary inputs and two relay outputs.

 

In order to control their actuators and sensors on the spot, USR IOT uses PLC to link to the industrial router USR-G781 via Ethernet. The software supports all common VPN technologies. Therefore, USR-G781 can establish an Open VPN tunnel that terminates in the central process control system. Hence, incoming and outgoing data can be transmitted securely.