What is Machine-to-Machine (M2M)? Learn About its Industrial Applications

What is Machine-to-Machine (M2M)?

M2M refers to the exchange of data between machines, and the M2M industry generally refers to the market and industry formed by M2M equipment, software, networks, and services. With the advancement of M2M technology, M2M will drive the continuous development of M2H (Machine to Human) and M2E (Machine to Enterprise). In the future, every industry will have the shadow of M2M.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is used to describe any technology in which IoT devices can exchange information and perform operations without human assistance. IoT requires M2M, but M2M does not require IoT. AI and machine learning facilitate communication between systems, enabling them to make autonomous choices. The technology of M2M has been widely used in manufacturing and industrial environments, mainly in the fields of medical, commercial, and insurance. M2M is also the foundation of IoT.

Intelligent and interactive communication is achieved through M2M module technology. It is not necessary to communicate instructions by humans, and the system will actively communicate according to the established program. Let machines be endowed with more intelligent and intelligent behaviors.

How does M2M Work?

M2M can be used to capture and transmit data according to specific applications through multiple wireless technologies (LTE, WiFi, BLE, ZigBee, RFID). Often more than one wireless technology is used in each application or solution, and different wireless technologies are used for data capture and data transfer. Through these tools, you can connect mobile or stationary objects, such as trains, household appliances, medical equipment, displays, etc., and complete related tasks, including sensing or data capture, wireless data transport, and information management systems.

The purpose of its technology is to use sensors to acquire data and transmit it to the network. Unlike SCADA or other remote monitoring tools, M2M systems typically use public networks and access methods, making them more cost-effective.

The main components of an M2M system include sensors, RFID, Wi-Fi, or cellular communication links, etc., and autonomous software programmed to help network devices interpret data and make decisions. These M2M applications transform the data and then trigger pre-programmed automated operations.

The advantages of M2M are that it can change the original market model by reducing equipment maintenance and downtime to reduce costs and by proactively monitoring and repairing equipment before it breaks down or only when needed, thereby improving customer service, etc.

What is the M2M System Architecture?

The M2M system includes hardware and software, and each hardware device communicates data through the network. In addition, the M2M system includes a server host and an intelligent expert system, and the data transmitted between devices can be processed through the server host expert system.

• A device or group of devices capable of replying to requests for data contained within those devices or capable of transmitting data contained within those devices autonomously.
• A communications link to connect the device or group of devices to a computer server or another device.
• A software agent, process, or interface by which the data can be analyzed, reported, and/or acted upon.
• Software Intelligence.

They are an "enterprise-level management software platform" for people to conveniently manage information; a "wireless communication solution" for people to transmit information to machines; "on-site data collection and monitoring equipment" for data collection and monitoring management in unknown environments.

In the field of application, M2M module technology is often combined with sensors to collect information, and through the sensor's exploration of the unknown environment, the obtained information is transmitted to the device or equipment, and the available information has been provided for analysis.

What are the Applications of M2M?

• Connected Devices:
  Most people in the Western world personally own more than one connected device. Smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, computers, and in-vehicle navigation systems in personal vehicles are the most common objects. So real-time information can be accessed. Whether it's looking up the weather, traffic, or something a little more complex, like checking how many steps you've taken today. M2M apps are becoming an integral part of our lives thanks to apps that can interpret specific data from a phone or smartwatch.
• Medical field:
  Connected devices have made our world more convenient, but also more secure. M2M applications are particularly numerous in the medical field, where efficient data collection methods combined with fast data transfer solutions can save patients' lives. For people with heart disease or diabetes, 24/7 monitoring can play an important role. More and more devices offer M2M or IoT capabilities and help improve healthcare practices.
• Smart Home:
  A smart home is how M2M communication works and can benefit individuals, including smart home applications such as smart meters, smart temperature control, etc.
  Thanks to these highly advanced devices, both customers and energy or water providers can enjoy a more seamless experience. Smart meters do not require manual readings by a technician but collect all necessary data on their own. It then sends the information to the company's servers in real-time. This allows individuals to access the most recent accounts of their consumption and adjust their habits accordingly. In the case of sophisticated home smart meters, these meters offer similar performance to homes equipped with solar panels, tracking energy production in real-time. Other smart appliances include advanced security systems, an interesting example of how M2M communication works. This allows users to access live video feeds of their homes. Whether at home or not, they can also use their smartphone as a virtual walkie-talkie and configure alarms remotely.
• Vending machine:
  Connected vending machines are an example of how M2M communication can create optimized processes in the most unexpected ways. These networked machines are often much larger than standard vending machines and allow users to access well-stocked corner stores, regardless of time or day, or how far away they are located. State-of-the-art models can even deliver refrigerated cargo or fresh produce.

Looking to the future:

With the development of science and technology, it can be expected that M2M technology will continue to have more and more devices with communication and networking capabilities, enabling applications such as environmental monitoring and environmental analysis, and creating IoT business opportunities.

Utilize technologies such as wireless networks, sensors, and real-time computing to achieve a more convenient life and create user-friendly products. Whether it is the communication between people and machines or between machines and machines, M2M is a technology that uses such concepts and thinking to strengthen the communication and network capabilities of machines and equipment and endow machines with more intelligence and humanized capabilities.

Due to the working principle of M2M communication, the application of this technology continues to improve and provides an extremely convenient and cost-effective option for professional and personal users in many different fields. As a result, we can expect more and more services to be provided to us directly through our smartphones, connected vehicles, smart meters, and devices that are available on the roads, cities, airports, hospitals, schools, etc. around us. When relying on security technologies to handle big data responsibly, the advantages far outweigh the retention. Machine-to-machine communication is paving the way for future integrated solutions.