Routers and IoT Gateway

Wireless Routers and IoT Gateways we provide are the key secret ingredient that makes it possible to create an IoT solution like StockVUE. The wireless routers connect the sensors (digital smart scales) to the IoT Gateway at a site. The IoT Gateways connect to the StockVUE Cloud via WiFi or Ethernet and upload data into the Cloud. Together they make it possible to build a scalable but modular solution that can be scaled up to meet the need to manage thousands of parts per site.

Digital Router SC-1200

Sensor Router

12 port wireless sensor routers provide power, collect data and upload it to the server wirelessly.

IoT Gateway Node

Node

IoT Gateway with an Ethernet port, four USB ports and WiFi connectivity. It gathers and uploads data to the Cloud.

IoT Gateway Node +

Node +

The Node+ is a Node device with a built in touch screen display to easily update settings and see alert messages.

Sensor Router SC-1200

When we set out to connect our digital smart scales to the cloud, we were faced with a challenge of how to connect each scale to the cloud. Ideally the scales would be wireless and battery operated. But no matter how advanced the batteries, they would need to be changed periodically, once a month, once a quarter, once a year. This would be really cumbersome in a high stress business environment. Can't be expected to go and change batteries however infrequently. Plus the cost per scale goes up dramatically the larger and more powerful the battery one used.

In order to make it affordable and scalable, instead of wireless connectivity from each scale, we made it modular and built the SC-1200Z to connect with up to twelve scales, gather the data and wirelessly communicate it to the IoT Gateway. By making it powered by an adapter (with an optional external battery) we reduced the cost, made it modular by letting users add scales in a dozen unit increments and kept the solution easy to maintain and administer. The SC-1200 is a key piece of the solution to puzzle of how to massively network smart scales to create an enterprise class inventory management solution.

Wireless Router for Digital Scales

Front and Back of Wireless Router

Digital Smart Scales are connected via the miniB USB Connectors on the SC-1200. The scales use the UART protocol with simple ASCII commands that send back calibrated weight in lbs or kg or grams. The sensor routers are powered by a 9 V power adapter or rechargeable external batteries (optional, not included with order).

Power to Routers can be Daisy Chained

Power to Routers can be Daisy Chained

You do not need to provide power to every sensor router from a power outlet. You can drop power to the first wireless sensor router, and then from there you can daisy chain the power to the next three to five units.  Then a single power strip can power an entire rack filled with digital smart scales making the cabling less cluttered and easier to manage.

IoT Gateway

The IoT Gateway is a device that connects to the Cloud via Ethernet or WiFi connectivity. Using a wireless receiver dongle that we provide, it connects to all the wireless sensor routers on site and receives weight data. It gathers and formats the weight data per scale per site and uploads it to StockVUE Cloud periodically but typically every 15 minutes. This update frequency is configurable via the StockVUE Edge software.

Node

Node

Node Specifications:

Four USB Ports

One Ethernet Port

One WiFi Transceiver

One HDMI Port

Enclosure Size - 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.25 inches

Powered by 5V DC provided with micro USB connector 

Node Plus

Node +

Node+ Specifications:

Four USB Ports

One Ethernet Port

One WiFi Transceiver

One HDMI Port

Enclosure Size - 9.6 x 5.4 x 2.7 inches

Powered by 5V DC provided with micro USB connector 

7" Touch Screen Display 

Adjustable stand with base to place it on flat surface
and adjust angle as needed

Why use the Node/Node+ instead of a PC or Mac as a Gateway?

StockVUE is a solution that is supposed to run 24x7x365 and provide up to the minute inventory updates remotely. Typically a PC or Mac needs to be updated with OS patches, have virus databases that need to be downloaded and the machines periodically are rebooted to atcivate these new updates. That can cause disruptions in the StockVUE service. Instead our Node/Node+ Gateways are dedicated single purpose processors whose sole job is to upload data from scales to the StockVUE Cloud. It is lower in cost, and offers superior reliability and robustness over using a PC or Mac for the same purpose. It is an integral part of StockVUE.