Freedom Robotics Guide to Cellular Routers for Robot Connectivity
At Freedom
Robotics, we have worked with hundreds of robotic customers using LTE
connectivity to implement robotic applications. Based on the use case, budget,
and reliability requirements, the solutions they have implemented fall into
three general categories:
Cheap - LTE
USB Flash Drive
Medium cost:
entry-level commercial LTE routers
High cost -
Reliable high-end routers for business options
Here we
compile category specific routers that we have implemented for our clients with
great success.
Low cost LTE
USB flash drives
Huawei_CellularConnectiity_FreedomRobotics-1
While not a hardened router solution, USB drives (like the Huawei E8372h-517
shown here) are common in robotics. We have seen fleets of robots with this
class of router that provide decent connection quality. They are also
inexpensive enough to add as a backup or in addition to the other solutions
listed here.
Specs:
150Mbps
downlink and 50Mbps uplink - very fast for an LTE USB dial-up internet
You can
mount an outside antenna as it has two TS-9 connectors for an external antenna
Accept a
cell phone card
Can generate
a wifi access point
Low energy
consumption
Operating
temperature –10 ℃ to + 40 ℃
Who is
this solution for?
A USB LTE
dongle is a great option for quickly and inexpensively testing prototypes
outside of Wi-Fi range. However, putting your robot into production with a
solution like this is not recommended. Since USB drives are a consumer product,
you should expect regular dropouts and frequent replacements. They are also not
recommended for critical use.
MicrohardDragon_CellularConnectivity_FreedomRobotics
The
Microhard Dragon-LTE-100-GL will provide a reliable joining on a single SIM
card and allow the flexibility to design this product on your robot without
breaking your budget.
The
entry-level commercial router that stands out here is the Microhard
Dragon-LTE-100-GL. This router will not increase your connection speed on an
LTE USB stick, but it will increase the reliability of the connection, which is
much more important for most applications. It is still just a single SIM router
designed to be integrated into a system and deployed in production. Here are
the specs:
150 Mbps
downlink and 50 Mbps uplink
Connects via
Ethernet
Accepts LTE
or Wi-Fi signal
Can generate
a wifi access point
Operating
temperature –40 ℃ to + 85 ℃
The maximum
power consumption is 4 watts.
Firewall
Rules and VPN Tunnels via ACL
Can generate
data usage alerts
See full
specs here
Who is
this solution for?
This router
is ideal for robots in a geographically limited operating environment with
reliable cellular coverage from a single carrier. It is also best suited for
robots that do not log critical data remotely and are capable of receiving
human and remote mission commands in the same working environment.
High-end
commercial LTE routers
Looking for
a robotic connectivity solution? The PEPLINK MAX Transportation DUO CAT 6
(MAX-TST-DUO-LTEA-W-T-PRM) maintain a fast and stable connection.
The PEPLINK MAX Transportation DUO CAT 6
(MAX-TST-DUO-LTEA-W-T-PRM) maintain a fast and stable connections.
When
maintaining a fast and stable connections is critical to the success of your
application, you will need a high-end commercial LTE router. This class of
router allows for faster connection speeds, dual simulation capabilities, high
shock and temperature rating, and the ability to manage your connections
through cloud management softwares.
The router
highlighted here is the PEPLINK MAX Transit DUO CAT 6
(MAX-TST-DUO-LTEA-W-T-PRM). Here are the specs:
300 Mbps
down and 50 up
Dual SIM
with instant switching (many comparable routers can take 3-5 minutes to change
or require additional hardware)
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