Hardware Podcasts

Global 5G Coverage with IoT | Eridan's Doug Kirkpatrick | Internet of Things Podcast

IoT For All Podcast · 16 May 2023 · 26m

What this episode covers

Doug Kirkpatrick, CEO and co-founder of Eridan, explains why current 5G infrastructure is financially and energetically unsustainable for global coverage, noting that legacy base stations consume too much power and require excessive capital expenditure. He details how Eridan’s technology, combining direct polar modulation and gallium nitride, reduces power consumption by up to 100-fold, enabling solar-powered, low-cost base stations for rural IoT applications like precision agriculture. Kirkpatrick argues that 5G’s multi-threaded capacity allows IoT devices to utilize unused network bandwidth, creating a viable economic model for connecting remote communities without relying on expensive grid infrastructure.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Eridan, Starlink, AT&T
Materials
gallium nitride
Also
direct polar modulation, Eridan.IO

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Moore's Lobby · 47m

    5G and IoT: What Will It Take for Them to Get Along?

    Thomas Keller, Director of Platforms and Core Technology at u-blox, discusses the challenges of integrating low-power IoT devices with 5G networks. He explains that while 5G was designed for high capacity and low latency, the industry currently relies on LTE-based technologies like Cat M1 and NB-IoT for IoT, with 'RedCap' (Reduced Capability) devices emerging as a transitional 5G standard. Keller highlights the tension between network operators needing to support legacy LTE infrastructure and the long-term shift to 5G Standalone, noting that true low-power 5G IoT optimization will take several specification releases to mature.

    Wireless & RFConnected products & IoT
    5 chapters

  • Over the Air · 27m

    Satellite Iot: Space-Based Connectivity Solutions With Oli Potter

    Oliver Potter, COO of Ground Control, explains how satellite IoT bridges the connectivity gap for assets in remote maritime, renewable energy, and climate monitoring applications where cellular coverage is absent. He details the evolution from expensive geostationary satellites to cost-effective Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, highlighting the industry's shift toward standardized protocols like 3GPP Narrowband IoT to enable cheaper, interoperable hardware. Potter emphasizes that successful deployment requires rigorous data compression and edge AI to manage the high cost and power constraints of space-based transmission, ensuring long-term reliability for critical infrastructure like wildfire detection and tsunami warning systems.

    Wireless & RFConnected products & IoT
    7 chapters

  • Over the Air · 36m

    Designing IoT Solutions for Hard-to-Connect Places

    Jit Bhattacharya, Principal at Factor(e) Ventures and former CTO of Phoenix, discusses engineering IoT solutions for off-grid energy systems in rural Africa. He details three core challenges: unreliable connectivity requiring manual backup codes, low bandwidth necessitating data compression on 32-bit microcontrollers, and limited power availability demanding extreme efficiency for GSM modems. Bhattacharya also highlights the critical role of lithium-ion batteries in reducing maintenance for remote telecom towers and the importance of data pipelines for industry buy-in.

    Wireless & RFBatteries & low-power design
    9 chapters

  • Over the Air · 22m

    Building A Low-cost Satellite IoT Solution

    Alastair Williamson, CEO of Wyld Networks, explains how his company created an affordable satellite IoT solution by combining LoRaWAN technology with low-earth orbit satellites to enable global connectivity. He details the 'beaconing' mechanism that keeps sensors in sleep mode for 2-5 years on battery power, allowing data collection in areas without terrestrial coverage. Williamson highlights key use cases in precision agriculture, such as soil moisture monitoring to reduce water waste, and industrial applications like monitoring oil pipe corrosion for Chevron. He also discusses the company's roadmap to launch its commercial service in late 2022 and expand into carbon sequestration monitoring.

    Wireless & RFBatteries & low-power design
    7 chapters

  • Moore's Lobby · 53m

    AI or 5G? EdgeQ Asks, "Why Not Both?" While Building a Wireless Base Station-on-a-Chip

    Adil Kidwai, VP and Head of Product Management at EdgeQ, explains how the company built a software-defined base station-on-a-chip that combines 5G and AI capabilities using RISC-V processors. He details the mathematical similarities between information theory and AI, allowing EdgeQ to offer customizable features like low latency or high bandwidth to reduce power consumption and cost compared to traditional multi-chip solutions. Kidwai also reflects on his career transition from Intel's wireless division to a startup environment, highlighting the challenges of scaling during the pandemic and the shift in cellular networks from human-centric to machine-centric communication.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsWireless & RF
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by IoT For All Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.