Smart modules are coming together with massive cloud computing and processing power that, thanks to wireless connectivity, can be accessed wherever it is needed thereby empowering IoT applications, removing technical limitations and accelerating time to market. Smart modules are a further piece in the IoT puzzle that simplifies and speeds up deployments. By providing the ability to perform multiple tasks in a single module, the need to develop and then integrate function-specific modules into an IoT device is reduced.

Compute, control, communicate

The single, smart module combines multiple different functions typically in a small form factor, ready to use, computing, controlling and communication device. The principles behind smart modules are application and software-focused, rather than hardware-oriented and this flexibility helps simplify adapting smart modules to end user requirements. Smart modules also offer a wide range of interfaces so they can support a broad range of functionality from cameras to sensors and audio and video.

A module becomes smart by creating the ability to embed many functions and ensure these interact correctly, enabling intelligent outcomes. As IoT devices become more intelligent, the emergence of edge intelligence and increased reliance on this as a means to offset cloud computing and processing costs is seeing greater intelligence being accommodated on end user devices. In addition, newer technologies such as neural processing engines are being added to smart modules and will help to drive greater functionality and cost efficiency, enabling smart modules to do more and interact with other systems and functions more simply.

These capabilities mean a growing number of smart module use cases are entering the mainstream. These include artificial intelligence and IoT (AIoT) use cases such as robots and smart factories, face and voice recognition, healthcare assistants and medical diagnosis and industrial digital assistance.

Other use cases are mobile payments, smart point of sale, vending machines, industrial PDAs and tablets and e-mobility. However, adding smart capabilities will be made easier in most verticals and for most types of IoT applications by specifying a smart module.

Smart means simple

The smartness of a smart module centers on its capability to bring together previously discrete functionality into a single product with a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) number. Developers that select smart modules avoid having to specify multiple modules to address discrete functionalities and can radically simplify device design because of this. Additional benefits include pre-integrated functionality that has been tested by the smart module maker and there are fewer security concerns because there are fewer points of weakness than architectures that require multiple different modules to interact.

The capabilities of smart modules are detailed and explained in the new Quectel whitepaper ‘Why smart modules simplify development, speed time to market and make hyperscale IoT a reality’ which you can read here. The paper shares details of Quectel’s comprehensive range of smart modules and looks at how smart module innovation is transforming IoT and truly helping to build a smarter world.

Please click here to view our range of smart modules