Best of 2023 IoT Award Winners
Welcome to the Winners Page for the Best of 2023 Awards! We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional achievements of our winners, who have demonstrated unparalleled innovation and excellence in the Internet of Things (IoT). Explore this page to discover the trailblazers and visionaries shaping the future of connected technologies.
Overall Winner - Excellence in IoT Award - Quectel
The pinnacle of the Best of 2023 Awards, the IoT Excellence Award, is awarded to Quectel. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon the entrant that demonstrates unparalleled excellence, innovation, and transformative impact in the IoT realm, setting them apart as a beacon of achievement in our industry.
“Quectel’s contribution to the IoT industry exemplifies the spirit of innovation and transformation that the Best of 2023 Awards seek to celebrate,” said Kyle Detro, Founder at IoThinkTank. “Their work not only advances technology but also paves the way for future innovations, embodying the essence of excellence in IoT.”
IoT Breakthrough of the Year - Wi-Fi HaLow Modules by Quectel
Wi-Fi HaLow introduces a low power connectivity option that, in contrast to other Wi-Fi options, offers greater range of approximately 1km. This opens up a raft of IoT use cases, especially for small campus-based deployments such as academic and research institutions, industrial sites and offices. In addition, a wide range of industrial, smart city and smart building and agricultural applications can be supported.
Wi-Fi HaLow has a performance sweetspot, offering up to 78Mbps capacity over short distances with 150Kbps achievable at up to 1km. This makes it a real alternative to LoRaWAN, Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy and even narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT). Importantly, the data rate is sufficient for streaming video over the network, setting HaLow apart from LoRa, Sigfox and NB-IoT, plus of course standard Wi-Fi.
Quectel has been rapid to market with a range of Wi-Fi HaLow modules including the FGH100M which is available now. The FGH100M enables lower power connectivity than previous Wi-Fi technologies and is able to support coin cell battery devices operating for months or years, which is critical for use cases such as smart sensors and condition monitoring. Unlike similar IoT technologies, Wi-Fi HaLow supports native IP and does not require proprietary gateways, controllers, or hubs, which greatly streamlines the installation and reduces operating costs.
With its ultra-compact size of 13.0mm × 13.0mm × 2.2mm, the FGH100M effectively optimizes end-product size and design cost. The FGH100M satisfies the latest Wi-Fi requirements for authentication and encryption including WPA3 and AES for over-the-air (OTA) traffic.
More information can be found here.
IoT Company of the Year - Thinxtra
Thinxtra is an Australian-owned and operated company that provides affordable, sustainable access to asset data using high-accessibility Massive Internet of Things (IoT). Thinxtra’s solutions enable organizations across many industries to access untapped insights, more consistently and at lower cost to accelerate growth, efficiency and positive, sustainable impact in the world.
Thinxtra first launched in 2015 as the 0G Network operator for Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macau. It has since evolved from “The IoT Telco” to a provider of complete, end-to-end Massive-IoT solutions that provide access to insights fueled by the collection of essential or smart data. It has been able to achieve this transformation through the development of strategic partnerships and an in-house product development team that sources, tests and validates the best technologies to form its end-to-end offerings. These strategic partnerships are ongoing two-way relationships that continuously drive new product features and functionality based on customer feedback and experience, Thinxtra’s strategy is validated by the many customer success stories it has across its regions including enterprise organizations like Coles, CouriersPlease, Unelco, and more.
Thinxtra has also won the Australian Business Awards in the Supply Chain Innovation & Digital Innovation categories and is a finalist in multiple other programs including CRN Impact Awards, IoT Awards Australia, and Computer Weekly Innovation Awards APAC. Thinxtra today and into the future is customer-centric and drives innovation through a thorough understanding of the market’s needs and challenges even as they change.
IoT Edge Product of the Year - ZEDEDA
The adoption of edge computing is soaring, driven by digital transformation projects within enterprises seeking to open new revenue streams, secure competitive advantage, and optimize their resources. But while IoT and edge deployments are growing, with both greater capabilities and breadth of solutions, delivering true compute power at the edge at scale remains complicated. ZEDEDA offers a simple and scalable cloud-based orchestration solution that delivers visibility, control and security for distributed edge computing.
The ZEDEDA platform gives customers the freedom to deploy and manage any app on any hardware at hyperscale while connecting to any cloud or on-premises systems. It is designed to meet the security, safety, uptime and usability needs of both OT and IT organizations, enabling them to focus on driving business outcomes. ZEDEDA is optimized to address the unique requirements for deploying computing at the distributed edge – outside of secure data centers, both on-premises and in the field.
The solution leverages the open source EVE-OS from the Linux Foundation’s LF Edge organization to provide an open, flexible and secure foundation while abstracting the complexity of the diverse hardware, connectivity and software at the distributed edge and eliminating any vendor lock-in. The solution is horizontal, but focus markets include manufacturing, energy, retail and healthcare. ZEDEDA’s differentiation lies in the industry-leading zero-trust security model, open foundation and ecosystem. The solution uniquely supports any edge hardware and application format, compared to competitors that only support Docker containers. The zero-trust security model features silicon-based root of trust (e.g., TPM), a crypto-based ID that eliminates local device login credentials, measured boot, remote attestation and full disk encryption. This ensures device integrity, detects anomalies in the software stack and governs data flow from edge to cloud with a policy-based distributed firewall.
Compliance requirements are met via centralized management with Role-based Access Control. Compared to proprietary offers that lock users in, ZEDEDA is rooted in the open source EVE-OS, which can be thought of as the “Android of the Edge.” EVE-OS also unifies ZEDEDA’s open edge ecosystem, enabling users with choice of edge hardware and applications that are easily deployed on devices through the built-in app marketplace. Additionally, ZEDEDA has continued to build out its open ecosystem through numerous industry partnerships, empowering customers with deeper integrations with key solution providers and providing easy management and orchestration of these solutions. As industrial organizations look to modernize their operations by extending cloud capabilities to the edge ZEDEDA expanded their relationship with Emerson Ventures to meet this need. Emersons’ solution integrates ZEDEDA management and orchestration offer into its DeltaV automation system, delivering enhanced OT solutions while continuing into the IT environment. This solution provides software-defined automation and revolutionizes how customers can deploy and connect workloads within their distributed environments.
Additionally ZEDEDA was selected by Rockwell Automation as a key technology supplier. They have integrated ZEDEDA’s technology into their FactoryTalk Edge offering, enabling Rockwell Automation’s software portfolio at the distributed edge ZEDEDA recently secured $72 million in growth capital, led by new investor Smith Point Capital. ZEDEDA saw strong support from returning investors in this round, including Emerson Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, Rockwell Automation,Porsche Ventures, Lux Capital, Juniper Networks, and 5G Open Innovation Lab, among others. ZEDEDa has now raised over $127 million in total since its founding in 2016. ZEDEDA’s edge orchestration platform has secured industry recognition for the company through numerous award wins including, CRN’s 2021 Emerging Technology Vendors award, the 2022 IoT Evolution Product of the Year Award, the 2022 Security Excellence Award, the 2023 Industrial IoT Product of the Year Award, the 2023 IoT Evolution Production of the Year Award, the 2023 IoT Evolution Security Excellence Award, and the 2023 Zero Trust Security Award.
IoT Innovation of the Year - Arable Mark 3
The all-new Arable Mark 3 IoT-based sensing and monitoring device, launched in 2023, has set an unprecedented benchmark for in-field crop intelligence, pushing the boundaries of innovation and engineering excellence in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. A technological triumph, the Mark 3 is the first IoT device of its kind to combine weather, plant, and soil sensing with irrigation monitoring, contextualized crop images, and data communications in a single compact and portable device. With its quick setup, one-touch activation, and zero maintenance requirement, the Mark 3 offers unparalleled user convenience in the realm of IoT-based agriculture. Every aspect of the Mark 3 has been meticulously designed and subjected to rigorous testing, meeting stringent IP67 standards to ensure seamless operation even in the harshest growing conditions.
From its robust solid-state design to the utilization of cutting-edge materials and sensors, every element contributes to the device’s exceptional durability and reliability, setting a new standard for IoT devices in agriculture. This groundbreaking device has been recognized with a prestigious silver International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) for its exceptional combination of aesthetics and robust functionality.
To overcome data transmission challenges common in remote regions, the Mark 3 features a high-powered antenna with a connectivity range seven times greater than that of a typical cell phone, ensuring reliable connectivity. Additionally, it boasts five times the battery capacity and double the charging power of its predecessor, the Arable Mark 2, enabling uninterrupted operation for up to two months without sunlight—an invaluable advantage for regions experiencing extended periods of low solar activity. Among its many advancements are state-of-the-art environmental and plant sensors, further enhancing its IoT capabilities. These include a research-grade thermal sensor that reads canopy temperature within one degree Celsius and a 22 narrow-band spectrometer that facilitates advanced plant analysis. With these cutting-edge sensors, users gain the ability to detect plant stress before it becomes visible to the human eye, safeguarding crop quality and maximizing yield potential. Additionally, the Mark 3 includes an optional ultrasonic anemometer for precise tracking of wind speed and direction without any moving parts.
The Mark 3 further distinguishes itself with a high-resolution 5-megapixel onboard camera. This camera captures field images in synchronization with other crop data. This contextual combination unlocks countless benefits, including faster problem identification and resolution, increased transparency through automated visual record-keeping, and substantial time and cost savings by negating unnecessary field visits. Moreover, the Mark 3 is designed to be future-proof, as it already includes advanced IoT capabilities like long-range Bluetooth connectivity and edge machine learning, which can be activated through existing hardware as these features become available. This forward-looking approach safeguards investments and promotes environmental preservation by minimizing electronic waste. The Mark 3 stands as a testament to Arable’s dedication to innovation and engineering excellence in the field of IoT and represents the most powerful purpose-built crop monitoring system available globally.
With unparalleled functionality and user-friendly operation, it serves as the cornerstone of Arable’s intuitive crop intelligence solution enabling vast amounts of field-level data to be synthesized and transformed into actionable insights for users worldwide. This newfound visibility and trove of information, made possible by the Mark 3’s advanced capabilities, empower farmers, researchers, crop advisors, and supply managers to make informed and timely decisions, boosting productivity, sustainability, and financial outcomes throughout the farm-to-food value chain. The Mark 3 revolutionizes ground-level crop intelligence, ushering in a new era of optimization and transformative approaches to agriculture in the age of IoT.
IoT Security Product of the Year - KeyScaler-as-a-Service
KeyScaler as a Service (KSaaS) is the only cloud-based solution that provides complete device and data trust, vital to securing connected ecosystems, particularly those wanting to harness the power of AI. The end-to-end solution covers the entire device lifecycle from onboarding to decommissioning, protecting devices at every stage, mitigating risks and vulnerabilities effectively.
One of its key strengths lies in its advanced security features, employing innovative technologies such as Dynamic Device Key Generation (DDKG) and device identity management to ensure robust authentication and encryption, safeguarding data integrity and confidentiality. Additionally, KSaaS’ policy-based access controls enable organizations to enforce granular security policies tailored to their specific needs, enhancing security posture.
As a cloud-based service, it also offers scalability, flexibility, and ease of deployment, allowing organizations to adapt to evolving security requirements and scale their IoT deployments seamlessly, without the need for infrastructure investment or costly internal resource. This approach is already delivering significant ROI for organizations – for example, in an environment with 20,000 connected devices the return on investment of using KSaaS over a manual solution is 241%. KSaaS has established a strong and growing customer base, including several blue-chip companies as well as US government agencies.
As a result of this innovative solution, Device Authority was named the technological leader in Quadrant Knowledge Solutions’ Spark Matrix for IoT IAM in 2023 and was awarded Microsoft’s prestigious Rising Azure Technology Partner of the Year Award in 2023, a Global recognition of impact in cloud-based security.
Visit the Device Authority website.
IoT Smart City Solution of the Year - Quectel KG100S for Amazon Sidewalk
Amazon Sidewalk is a secure community network that uses Amazon Sidewalk Bridges, such as compatible Amazon Echo and Ring devices, to provide cloud connectivity for third-party IoT devices. Amazon Sidewalk’s highly encrypted technology utilizes small portions of internet bandwidth from millions of participating Sidewalk Bridges – IoT devices found in cities and communities around the world – to provide widespread wireless connectivity. A best-in-class developer journey supported from Amazon gives developers an unprecedented opportunity to instantly connect kitchen appliances, gas sensors, lawn sprinklers, mailboxes, keys, faucets, trash cans, pet trackers and streetlights out-of-the-box through Amazon Sidewalk.
The Quectel KG100S is a low-power, cost-effective module in an LGA form factor which is developed specially to support Amazon Sidewalk applications. The KG100S is equipped with a built-in SX1262 transceiver supporting LoRa and FSK and a high-performance, energy-friendly Silicon Labs EFR32BG21B microcontroller with a 2.4GHz radio transceiver for Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 and 80MHz ARM Cortex-M33 microcontroller core. With a compact profile of 15mm × 15mm × 2.25mm, 96KB of RAM and 1MB Flash, the module has a 3.3V and 1.8V power
IoT Use Case of the Year—AgTech Award - Quectel and BeeWaze
The deployment of BeeWaze by farmers in Latin America represents a breakthrough in IoT because it combines established data collection and processing technology with IoT to create new insights that have far-reaching impacts on multiple aspects of technology. BeeWaze monitors beehives to provide insights into the pollination process for smart farming use cases.
The company has adopted the Quectel EG915-U Cat1 module to enable IoT technology in beehives. BeeWaze system monitors the relevant variables for the vitality of hives and, during the flowering of fruit plantations, monitors the pollination process, providing data on the flow of bees that go out to pollinate plants. This monitoring allows preventive or remedial actions to be taken, positively impacting sustainability and increasing productivity in agricultural and beekeeping production.
Quectel EG915-U is a series of LTE Cat 1 modules optimized specially for M2M and IoT applications. Delivering maximum data rates of 10Mbps downlink and 5Mbps uplink and operates in an extended temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Designed in a compact and unified form factor of 23.6mm x 19.9mm x 2.4mm, the EG915-U series offers a rich set of internet protocols and industry-standard interfaces.
IoT Use Case of the Year—Remote Gaming Award - Quectel and Polyptik
“Polyptik, a French video games publisher, selected Quectel’s RMU500EK and RM520N-GL 5G modules to power its new remote reality car racing game Vrombr, the first remote reality racing 5G experience for smartphones. The game enables racers from all over the world to compete against each other online and have the experience of racing and controlling real cars on real race tracks.
Polyptik chose the RM500EK evaluation board (EVB) kit to aid its development of 5G-capable remote-controlled racing cars because of its quick-set up ability. This allows for rapid deployment of the Quectel RM520N-GL series of 5G modules that offer maximum downlink rates of 2.4 Gbps on 5G standalone (SA) and 3.4Gbps on 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks and maximum uplink rates of 900Mbps on 5G SA and 550Mbps on 5G NSA. The modules have dimensions of 52.0mm x 30.0mm x 2.3mm.
“We need high speed connectivity with minimum latency between the physical car and the player,” explains Michael Pastor, the CEO of Polyptik. “If there is too much delay, the player won’t have fun because the car won’t do what they want. Thanks to 5G, no matter where you are in the world you will be able to play.”
IoT Use Case of the Year—Smart Cities Award - Connectpoint and King County Metro
“Increasing ridership with Real Time Information Signage. King County Metro has a long history of leadership and innovation, particularly in the Smart City category. Public transportation provides the core attributes that Smart cities require for achieving reduced traffic, lower emissions, and ease of movement, amongst other things. That is why when KCM was looking for new RTIS to replace its LED signs that had limitations for real-time alerts, they selected Connectpoint’s award-winning suite of ePaper signage products. The Connectpoint signs are durable, eco-friendly, optionally solar-powered and visually crystal clear. All the attributes needed for long term smart city development.
The benefits of real-time information in public transportation are endless and beginning to revolutionize how people commute. Real-time information can mean many things, whether it be the exact minute the bus will be arriving or departing, any service changes to a line, public service announcements, delays, etc. This submission explains the rational and results of this multi-year project to deploys hundreds of signs that build trust with riders to increase ridership.”
Visit the Connectpoint website.
“IoThinkTank spotlights outstanding achievements in the IoT industry, recognizing the pioneers who push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is IoThinkTank?
IoThinkTank is a platform dedicated to recognizing and celebrating excellence in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry. We host awards to honor innovative companies, products, applications, and individuals making significant contributions to the IoT landscape.
- How do I apply for an award?
To apply, visit our submission page, select the relevant category, and provide a 250-word description of the product, along with a high-resolution product photo and data sheet. Check the specific submission guidelines for each category.
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- Who is eligible to participate?
The awards are open to all products, companies, organizations, and individuals involved in producing IoT products, solutions, and services. Nominations must have been produced, released, updated, or announced in the calendar year.
- How are the awards judged?
Entries are evaluated by a panel of experts based on criteria specific to each category. Judges look for creativity, innovation, impact, and contributions to the IoT ecosystem.
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