PMICs designed into air pollution monitoring hardware

IoT solutions provider MCCI has included the e-peas AEM10941, which specifically targets solar-powered implementations, into a new environmental sensor module that it is to start deploying. As part of a community-funded project, these sensor nodes will be set in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods within the city boroughs of Brooklyn, the Bronx and Harlem, where air pollution levels are particularly high.

The modules each feature PM2.5 particulate and VOC sensing devices, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Located on utility poles, these compact form factor units will dynamically collect real-time data associated with their surroundings every six minutes. This data will be transmitted back to a network hub via LoRaWAN connectivity for ensuing analysis.

“As we want to carry out analysis at a granular level, the intervals between when data is acquired are very short. The e-peas ICs can start extracting energy at really low voltages, ensuring the power budget requirements of our modules can be fully satisfied,” states Terry Moore, CEO and founder of MCCI. “The company’s track record in remote sensing applications was another important factor, as was the quick turnaround time they were able to support.”

“Our AEM series is continuing to make headway in a variety of different industry sectors, with ICs that are purpose built to attend to the particular demands of photovoltaic, thermal, vibration and RF-based energy sources,” adds Christian Ferrier, CMO at e-peas. “Through this project with MCCI, and others that are currently underway, we will keep on building e-peas’ reputation as the preferred supplier of energy harvesting IC technology.”