In the industrial world, data is the foundation of decision-making. It helps you see what’s happening, understand trends, and take action. The challenge is that data collection can be complicated and expensive. These problems grow as the business expands.
That’s why the VoBo was created. It’s an intelligent LoRaWAN® endpoint that was designed to make industrial data collection practical, scalable, and affordable. With a VoBo, gathering data from your equipment isn’t a major infrastructure project. VoBo makes it as simple as connecting a sensor and letting it do the work.
Data Collection
Industry relies on having actionable information on their process quality, efficiency, asset condition, safety, and compliance, the things that are important to operations. That data comes from all types of sensors and other devices that track what’s happening inside a system.
In traditional setups, this data travels through wired connections to a local controller or central server. Those systems have been around for decades, and they work well, but they also have limitations. Every sensor would be wired, powered, and connected to a control network or left unconnected and checked manually. Expanding that network can be difficult and usually means adding more wiring, more hardware, and more cost.
Wireless technology has changed that equation. With a wireless solution like LoRaWAN®, data can move securely across long distances without the need to run cables. That’s where the VoBo fits in, as the bridge between your wired sensors and a modern wireless LoRaWAN® network.
Why You Need Data Collection
You can’t improve what you can’t measure. That’s why reliable data collection is at the heart of every efficient operation. When you know what’s happening in your systems, you can react faster, plan smarter, and make better use of your resources. This requires data.
For example, monitoring helps detect issues early, before they cause downtime or product loss. Data supports predictive maintenance, allowing you to service your equipment when it’s needed instead of on a fixed schedule. And when you’re looking to optimize production or reduce energy usage, having accurate data allows you to measure the results.
In short, data collection is what turns guesswork into a measurable strategy.
How Expensive Is Data Collection?
The actual expense will vary from one deployment to another. Every need is different, but there are many things that add to the cost.
In traditional systems, wiring alone can be a major expense. Every new sensor can require hundreds of feet of cable, conduit, and the cost of installation.
Providing power is another challenge. Many sensors and transmitters require power, meaning you need to run power lines. Then there are the networking costs, which include routers, controllers, and sometimes licensing fees for proprietary systems that lock you in.
Finally, there can be limitations to a system’s flexibility. Some systems are designed for specific types of sensors or communication protocols, so adding new equipment means adding new types of hardware. Over time, the costs and complexity can make widespread monitoring too costly and impractical.
This is why many facilities only collect data from a handful of critical points, leaving valuable information unmonitored.
The VoBo: The Smarter Choice
The VoBo was built to solve these issues. It’s a compact, intelligent device that makes data collection easier, more flexible, and dramatically less expensive. It collects data and transmits it wirelessly to your LoRaWAN® network.
The VoBo can be configured to collect data from a wide variety of wired sensors and transmitters, and with an optional analytics plugin, perform calculations on that data. The result is a data collection system that costs less to install, less to maintain, and delivers more useful insights from every sensor you connect to the VoBo.
Install Anywhere
Unlike traditional systems that can require miles of wiring, the VoBo transmits the data wirelessly using LoRaWAN®. This means you can install it where you need it without having to run communications or power wiring. It can transmit data over long distances, even within noisy RF environments.
Flexible Legacy Sensor Compatibility
Unlike many proprietary sensor systems, the VoBo is sensor-agnostic. It’s a bridge device that connects wired sensors to a LoRaWAN® network. It supports a variety of inputs, including analog, digital, and Modbus® RTU, making it compatible with legacy equipment and a broad range of sensors, including sensors already in place. You don’t have to buy special transmitters or redesign your systems; in many cases you can simply connect the VoBo to what you already have and start collecting data.
Engineering Units
The VoBo analog channels can be configured to report in Engineering Units. When enabled, the VoBo converts the raw sensor signal into meaningful, real-world values, such as temperature in °C or pressure in PSI, before transmitting the payload. This eliminates the need for any additional processing after the data is decoded. The VoBo Decoder will work on all VoBo models and is backward compatible, reducing decoder maintenance.
Battery Powered
Battery-powered VoBos will typically run for years without needing a battery replacement. The ability to provide output power to sensors often enables VoBos and sensors to be a stand-alone deployment. This makes the VoBo ideal for monitoring remote, hard-to-reach assets where power is limited.
Designed for harsh environments
The VoBo is built with an industrial-grade, rugged, and waterproof enclosure with IP66 / NEMA 4X certification. The HL-1 model is also certified for hazardous locations, making it suitable for industrial settings such as oil and gas, mining, and water treatment. This makes the VoBo a great choice for collecting data in harsh environments without the need for any additional enclosures.
Adding Value with Optional Add-ons
There are several optional features that add even more value to your data collection efforts.
VoBoAnalytics – Edge Intelligence
An optional feature that really makes the VoBo stand out is its intelligence at the edge with VoBoAnalytics. Instead of sending raw data for analysis later, it can analyze information on board and transmit results or notifications. That means only the most relevant data gets sent, which reduces bandwidth, improves network efficiency, and keeps your cloud systems cleaner.
VoBoSync – Enhanced Timing
The optional VoBoSync allows for precisely coordinated timing when reading multiple sensors across a system or process. This gives you coordinated data that’s more meaningful. This also minimizes network congestion from packet collisions and extends the VoBo’s battery life.
Conclusion: VoBo Provides Smarter Data at Lower Cost
Data collection doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The VoBo gives you the flexibility to monitor what matters most, transmit wirelessly, make decisions based on the data, and expand coverage as your needs grow. The VoBo does it all without the burden of complex and expensive infrastructure.
By combining affordable wireless connectivity, edge intelligence, and long life, the VoBo makes it possible to collect more data from more places and turn that information into real operational value. The VoBo is scalable, low-cost data collection made smart.