廣域智慧聯網技術選擇之研究

Abstract

本研究是以技術選擇的分析方法，針對未來智慧聯網科技的核心技術之一的低功耗廣域網路(LPWAN)的技術規格為標的，並於該技術規格在智慧城市或智慧農業的商業應用範疇，挑選最具知名度的三種技術NB-IoT、LoRa以及SigFox，以進步性、制宜性與成長性等三類指標群組，共九個細部參數來進行比較，經過文獻分析，再輔以問卷調查，徵詢包括標準智財、研發製造、測試認證、電信營運及終端品牌等領域的專家意見，利用小樣本統計與雷達圖繪製，探討出最有可能影響該技術選擇的關鍵因素。 根據研究結果顯示，區域聯網技術中的WiFi雖然便宜，但卻需要無線路由器及無線AP來做網路接入，對於需要大規模的智慧聯網範疇中，區域規模有不足之嫌。而蜂巢式通信技術Cellular，其不論設備還是布建成本都太過高昂。在這樣的時空背景下，低功耗廣域網路(LPWAN)便脫穎而出。在本研究所探討的三種低功耗廣域網路技術中，又以NB-IoT最受青睞，LoRa次之，而SigFox則殿後，其關鍵因素在於安全可靠性、未來成長性以及電信品質的保證。 智慧聯網產業是一個新興中的大趨勢所在，本研究認為在面對資訊不足，前景不明的狀況下，雖然不論何種技術，一開始都有可能呈現成長的趨勢。然而在可以預期的大量競爭、短兵相接的環境中，以物聯網產品設計的角度而言，應以能快速轉換適應變化迅速的市場需求，且能支援多種標準的技術為基礎進行產品的開發，以減少單一技術可能造成的市場風險。

The analysis method used in this research is the technology selection. Targeting on Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), one of the core technologies of potential IoT use scenarios, we choose the most three promising communication protocols: NB-IoT、LoRa and SigFo among the applications of LPWAN in smart city and smart agriculture. Technology selection is implemented by comparing them in three aspects – novelty, suitability and growth, totally 9 parameters are considered. Plus the questionnaires to obtain the experts’ viewpoints in various fields, including developments of Essential of Intellectual Property (SIP), research and manufacturing, testing and verification, user equipment and telecom operators, and so on. In this thesis, we intend to collect these experts’ favors and derive some radar charts based on key parameters which most possibly affect the technology selection. Per the research, WiFi is cheap but it requires wireless router and wireless AP to access the network. Therefore, the regional scale of WiFi deployment may be not enough to fulfill the one which IoT demanded. And traditional cellular technologies cost too much no matter in equipment or deployment. Thus, the LPWAN stands out. Among the three technologies of LPWAN discussed in this research, almost all experts we interviewed agree that NB-IoT is the most popular one, then the LoRa, and SigFox is the last. In short, the key successful factors that NB-IoT wins the game are safety and reliability, future growth and the assurance of telecom quality. Now IoT industries are maintaining the good momentum of growth to build eco-systems, however, we are also facing a difficult problem to choose an adequate technology for a long-term deployment and maintenance at this early-stage timing and under the condition of insufficient information and unpredictable future. It may result in mirage in any possible ways while several new technologies compete to each other during such a growing period. Our research concludes that most of interviewed experts think highly of NB-IoT technology, however, in order to manage the risk caused by put all one's eggs in one basket. We recommend that in such an early and competitive stage, the wide area IoT products should be designed to fit the rapid transformations to meet various market demands, as well as to support multi-standards.