The Ultimate Resource: Freedom Robotics’ Comprehensive Guide to Cell Routers Enabling Seamless Robot Connectivity
Introduction:
Welcome to Freedom Robotics! With our extensive experience working with robotics customers, we have compiled a selection of routers that have proven successful for our clients. Depending on your specific needs and budget, we offer three categories of routers: low-cost USB LTE sticks, mid-cost entry-level commercial LTE routers, and high-cost, high-end commercial LTE routers.
For those looking for a quick and affordable solution, our low-cost USB LTE sticks, such as the Huawei E8372h-517, provide decent connection quality and can be used as a backup or additional solution.
Our mid-cost entry-level commercial LTE routers, like the Microhard Dragon-LTE-100-GL, offer increased connection reliability and flexibility for embedding into robotic systems.
And for applications where maintaining a fast and stable connection is crucial, our high-end commercial LTE routers, such as the PEPLINK MAX Transit DUO CAT 6, provide dual SIM capabilities, high shock and temperature ratings, and cloud management software.
We also provide a comparison chart of different routers, as well as recommendations for other reputable brands in the market.
Before selecting a router, it’s important to consider factors such as your environment, data requirements, carrier compatibility, and speed/reliability needs. Investing in a reliable router will ensure smooth operations, reduce connectivity issues, and allow you to focus on your core product.
Choose Freedom Robotics for your robotic connectivity needs and experience the benefits of a stable and efficient connection for your robots.
Full Article: The Ultimate Resource: Freedom Robotics’ Comprehensive Guide to Cell Routers Enabling Seamless Robot Connectivity
Choosing the Right LTE Router for Robotic Applications
At Freedom Robotics, we have worked extensively with robotics customers who rely on LTE connectivity to deploy their robotic applications. Depending on their use cases, budgets, and reliability requirements, we have identified three general categories of router solutions: low-cost USB LTE sticks, mid-cost entry-level commercial LTE routers, and high-cost, high-end commercial LTE routers. In this article, we will delve into each category and highlight specific routers that have been successful for our customers.
Low-Cost USB LTE Sticks
USB LTE sticks, such as the Huawei E8372h-517, may not be hardened router solutions, but they are commonly used in robotics due to their affordability. Robot fleets using this type of router have shown decent connection quality. USB LTE sticks can serve as a fallback or supplementary solution alongside other routers. Here are some key features of the Huawei E8372h-517:
– Specs: It offers a download speed of up to 150 Mbps and an upload speed of up to 50 Mbps, making it one of the fastest USB LTE modems available.
– External antenna compatibility: The router has two TS-9 connectors, allowing for the addition of an external antenna.
– WiFi hotspot capability: It can generate a WiFi hotspot, enabling multiple devices to connect.
– Low cost: The price of the Huawei E8372h-517 is $65.80.
– Low power consumption: It operates with low power consumption.
– Wide operating temperature range: It can operate in temperatures ranging from -10℃ to +40℃.
Who is this solution good for?
A USB LTE stick is an excellent option for quickly and affordably testing prototypes in areas without WiFi coverage. However, it is not recommended for production use. USB sticks are consumer-grade products that may experience periodic connection dropouts and require frequent replacements. They are not suitable for mission-critical applications.
Mid-Cost Entry-Level Commercial LTE Routers
The Microhard Dragon-LTE-100-GL is an entry-level commercial router that offers increased connection reliability over USB sticks without a significant price increase. It is designed to be embedded into a system and deployed in production. Here are the specifications:
– Specs: It provides a download speed of up to 150 Mbps and an upload speed of up to 50 Mbps, similar to a USB LTE stick.
– Ethernet connectivity: It connects via ethernet for stable communication.
– WiFi hotspot capability: It can generate a WiFi hotspot.
– Wide operating temperature range: It operates in temperatures ranging from -40℃ to +85℃.
– Power consumption: It consumes a maximum of 4 watts.
– VPN tunneling and firewall rules: It supports VPN tunneling and firewall rules through ACL.
– Data usage alerts: It can generate data usage alerts.
Who is this solution good for?
This router is well-suited for robots in operational environments with reliable cell coverage from a single carrier. It is ideal for robots that do not require remote logging of mission-critical data and can receive mission commands remotely from humans in the same working environment.
High-Cost, High-End Commercial LTE Routers
For applications that prioritize fast and stable connections, high-end commercial LTE routers are essential. These routers offer faster connection speeds, dual sim capabilities, high shock and temperature ratings, and cloud management software for connection management. One example of such a router is the PEPLINK MAX Transit DUO CAT 6 (MAX-TST-DUO-LTEA-W-T-PRM). Here are the specifications:
– Specs: It provides a download speed of up to 300 Mbps and an upload speed of up to 50 Mbps.
– Dual sim and instantaneous switching: It supports dual sim cards with instantaneous switching for continuous connectivity.
– SpeedFusion support: It supports SpeedFusion, allowing the router to simultaneously use data from each sim card.
– Cloud management software: It can be managed through cloud management software for easy configuration and monitoring.
– Wide operating temperature range: It can operate in temperatures ranging from -40℃ to +65℃.
– GPS availability: It has GPS functionality, although integration with ROS (Robot Operating System) may be challenging.
Who is this solution good for?
This class of router is best suited for robotic applications that transmit mission-critical data and are teleoperated, especially in scenarios where downtime is costly and physical access to the robot is limited. Investing in a high-end router frees up time and energy to focus on the core product rather than connectivity issues.
Band Compatibility: An Important Consideration
When selecting a router, it is crucial to ensure its compatibility with your carrier’s network and data plan. Routers and carriers operate on specific bands, so it is essential to choose a router that supports the appropriate bands for your carrier.
Conclusion
Before purchasing a router for your robotic application, consider factors such as your environment, data requirements, carrier, and speed and reliability requirements. Opting for a stable connection and excellent connectivity software, like Freedom Robotics, will simplify your deployment process, save time, and enable scalability. Additionally, there are other recommended router brands you can explore, such as Cradlepoint, Mushroomnetworks, Multitech.com, and Mitrotik.
By carefully evaluating your requirements and selecting the right router, you can ensure a successful and efficient deployment of your robotic application.
Summary: The Ultimate Resource: Freedom Robotics’ Comprehensive Guide to Cell Routers Enabling Seamless Robot Connectivity
At Freedom Robotics, we understand the importance of LTE connectivity in deploying robotic applications. We have worked with hundreds of robotics customers and have identified three categories of solutions based on budget and reliability requirements. The low-cost option includes USB LTE sticks like the Huawei E8372h-517, which provide decent connection quality at an affordable price. The mid-cost option is the Microhard Dragon-LTE-100-GL, which offers reliable connection without increasing the speed. For high-end solutions, we recommend the PEPLINK MAX Transit DUO CAT 6, which ensures fast and stable connection with dual sim capabilities. It is essential to consider compatibility with carriers and data requirements when selecting a router.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Sure! Here are five frequently asked questions and their answers about robotics:
Question 1: What is robotics?
Answer: Robotics is a branch of technology that involves the design, creation, and use of robots. Robots are programmable machines that can carry out various tasks autonomously or with human guidance. They are typically equipped with sensors, artificial intelligence, and mechanical parts to interact with their environment.
Question 2: How are robots programmed?
Answer: Robots can be programmed using various programming languages, such as C++, Python, or Java. Additionally, specialized robot programming languages like RoboDK and ROS (Robot Operating System) are often used. Programming robots involves creating algorithms and instructions that enable them to perform specific tasks or respond to certain stimuli.
Question 3: What are the applications of robotics?
Answer: Robotics has a wide range of applications across industries. Some common applications include industrial automation, healthcare assistance, space exploration, agriculture, and manufacturing. Robots can perform repetitive and dangerous tasks, assist in surgeries, explore inaccessible environments, harvest crops, assemble products, and much more.
Question 4: Can robots replace human jobs?
Answer: While robots can automate certain tasks and improve efficiency, complete replacement of human jobs is unlikely. Instead, robots often complement human workers by taking over repetitive or dangerous tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative tasks. This collaboration between humans and robots can lead to increased productivity and improved quality in various industries.
Question 5: How can I pursue a career in robotics?
Answer: To pursue a career in robotics, you can start by obtaining a degree in a relevant field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science. It is also beneficial to gain practical experience through internships, research projects, or participating in robotics competitions. Additionally, staying updated with advancements in robotics through continuous learning and networking can further enhance career prospects in this field.
Remember, the key to attracting and engaging humans is to provide valuable and accurate information in a clear and concise manner.
