The explosion of the Internet of Things (IOT) has led to a proliferation of connected devices. These vary from small sensor devices, medical wearables, and connecting existing electronic industrial and consumer equipment. Many of these are connected ultimately to the internet and use one or more wireless channels.

This opens up many interesting possibilities to manage systems and assets more efficiently, but at the same time, such connections become a potential channel for malign attacks. Here we look at the core issues in securing such systems.

By Nick Wood, Sales & Marketing Director, Insight SiP – experts in RF circuit miniaturization, System-in-Package and Antenna-in-Package.

With Covid-19, there is greater awareness of the importance of PPE (personal protection equipment). Manufacturers raced to produce PPE in high volumes to protect frontline healthcare workers. A perfect storm of increased demand for workplace health and safety measures, for PPE to address them and the maturity of Industry 4.0 and IoT-based technologies has accelerated the development of “Smart PPE” solutions.

This module offers multi-protocol networking with Bluetooth 5.2 Long Range connectivity, BLE Direction-Finding and Bluetooth Mesh together with Zigbee and Thread capability. It also provides an extended operating temperature range up to 105^oC.

Sophia Antipolis, France – 07 October 2020 – Insight SIP is launching the 1907-HT RF module, which offers a huge range of capabilities in a tiny package. With its extended temperature range, it is ideal for Smart Lighting/Smart Building applications, and includes Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee and Thread protocols to enable multimode networks.

In 2019, Insight SiP and its partner CYSEC, leading Swiss cybersecurity specialists, received an R&D grant from the Eurostars programme for their MEDIcal CYbersecure NEtwork project (“MEDICYNE”) proposal to develop an end-to-end secure communications solution for medical IoT devices. Our project was timely as the use of IoT-based connected devices in the healthcare sector has risen significantly. The arrival of Covid-19, pressure on healthcare budgets and increased demand for remote access healthcare solutions have injected a further sense of urgency into our project.

There are a number of alternative technologies available being promoted as lightweight Wide Area Networks (WANs). I use the term “lightweight WAN” to mean those using open spectrum, which in practice is the ISM bands around 400MHz, 900MHz and 2.4GHz (precise bands and rules vary by region across the world).

... with the aid of Insight SIP technology

Limbitless Solutions develops life-changing prosthetic limbs for children using 3-D printing and sophisticated electronics which include Insight SiP’s RF modules for wireless communication enabling children to adjust their prosthetics through an app. Wearing these bionic arms can make the children feel like superheroes.

The world’s first DNA-based healthier food selection service, includes Insight SiP RF module

When shopping for food, many people struggle to make healthy choices, and obesity has become a widespread problem. When following a diet, it is not always easy to access the right nutritional information, particularly when faced with an overwhelming number of foods to select from supermarket shelves. Fortunately, there is now a solution developed by DnaNudge that encourages healthy eating by “nudging” consumers to pick out the healthiest food, most suited to their unique DNA profile and lifestyle, when shopping.

We know that it is vital to keep hydrated for the benefit of our everyday health and whilst doing sport. However, it is difficult to tell if we are drinking enough liquid, too little or too much, relative to our bodies and exercise levels. Fortunately Belgian company Ygilis has developed a solution, the very stylish My_SmartBottle which connects wirelessly to an app which tracks and measures your personal hydration needs and advises you on how much liquid to consume and when to do so. Insight SiP’s RF module, facilitating wireless connectivity, plays a small but significant part in the success of My_SmartBottle.

Miniature electronic device generates virtual barriers around each wearer

Sophia Antipolis, France – 04 June 2020 - Insight SiP, the French designer and manufacturer of ultra-miniaturized electronic components, launches the "Security Bubble Covid-19" an electronic device which generates virtual barriers around each wearer to help them comply with governments’ health and safety recommendations to protect their citizens from contamination by Covid-19.

We are extremely proud and delighted to announce that our ISP4520 BLE + LoRa combo module has been awarded "Product of the Year 2019" by Electronic Products.