Demystifying the Magic of IoT Connectivity

By: Johann Nishant

Not too long ago, we humans were bashing together rocks to make fire, in the world of today we are bashing together the very building blocks of the universe with quantum computers to solve unique problems, along with teaching machines made of metal to be intelligent and more human-like. Many of these fields might seem like magic to some.

One of these fields, that always seemed like magic, at least to me, was the field of connectivity. It felt magical, that tremendous amounts of data can be sent or received through the same air we breathe. The same air which birds fly through. It still feels magical but a type of magic which I had the chance to work closely with over the last couple of years. Its mystery revealed through numerous projects and initiatives. My hope is to communicate and reveal some of its mysteries so that you too can appreciate its beauty.

Connectivity

Connectivity solves a simple problem — moving data between A and B. A and B need to be connected (sometimes briefly) for it to happen.

I work at Volvo Group Connected Solutions and we work immensely with data, we believe in its value and potential, we wholeheartedly agree it’s the new oil (albeit sustainable), are actively working on extracting as much as possible and bring out its value for Volvo Group customers.

We work with two main types of long-range connectivity in the Volvo Group with our over 1.7 million Connected Assets (vehicles, engines and even chargers) across the world. They are mainly cellular and satellite (Yup, Satellite! Our data literally goes to space and back). There are also new types on the way, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

We believe in the idea that wherever the asset is, it does not matter if it is a brand-new Electric FH Truck driving across the Autobahn or a sleek Volvo Bus in Brazil or a giant rigid Hauler in Kiruna, they need to be connected, their data could be valuable for a customer.

In this article, I will uncover Cellular Connectivity and leave satellite connectivity for another day.

Cellular Connectivity

Cellular Connectivity is the technology that enables us to deliver some of its most sought-out Connected Services; Uptime, Fuel & Energy Efficiency, Compliance and Data, Safety & Security, Assets Management & Transport Operations.

It’s magic can be explained through the following concepts.

The Connected Asset

Each Volvo Group vehicle can no longer be classified as just a vehicle but rather a computer on wheels. Each Connected Asset has numerous ECUs (Electronic Control Unit) which are precisely organized in an intricate electronic architecture. The connected asset contains a huge number of sensors, each sensor collects valuable data almost continuously, data which perhaps can help a customer reduce their carbon footprint or find the next electric charger.

Each Connected Asset also has a Telematic Unit which contains a modem. The modem is also provisioned with an identity in the form of a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module). Common identifiers like MSISDN (it is the mapping of the telephone number to the SIM in the telematic unit) and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity is a number that uniquely identifies every user of a cellular network) are also used. In simple terms a modem is a device which is used to convert the digital data which the sensor produces into an analogue medium such as radio waves. Radio waves are sent and received literally at the speed of light. This helps Volvo Group deliver time-critical services like eHorizon and Geo-Fencing. 4G LTE and 5G technology have really pushed the boundaries on how much of this data can be squeezed into radio waves.

The Mobile Network Operator

These Radio Waves now arrive at the Mobile Network Operator (MNO), Volvo Group has partnered with numerous MNOs all around the world. They help us receive these radio waves from their cellular sites (part of a Radio Access Network) and together with their Core Network help us form a private network between the Connected Assets from all around the world and our Connectivity Platform at Volvo Group Connected Solutions.

This Private Network is achieved through the concept of an APN (Access Point Name), An Access Point Name is the name of a gateway between a mobile network (GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G and 5G) and another network, Volvo Group Connected Solutions and its partner mobile network operators have setup a collection of these APNs so that a Connected Asset could join our Private Network from anywhere in the world in a safe & secure manner.

To bolster cybersecurity, each one of these APNs requires special MNO Subscriptions, and a secure Authentication Flow. We also use a secure VPN Connection between the Mobile network Operator and the Volvo Group Connectivity Platform.

Once the Asset is authenticated into the Private Network, it also provisioned with an IP address and henceforth it can use a range of protocols to communicate with the Volvo Group Connectivity Platform.

Connectivity Platform

Our Connectivity Platform is based in AWS, it comprises of a fleet of High-performance Applications which are capable of sending and receiving more than 35000 packets/sec. They are scalable, robust, and built to always be UP! These Applications receive the data securely, identify, process, and make It available to almost 100+ microservices in our Platform which further bring-out value.

We also have another fleet of applications which handle the uploading and downloading of large files which enables the Over the Air Updates of our Connected assets across the world.

Cybersecurity with IoT Connectivity

For Volvo Group Connected Solutions, Cybersecurity is not an afterthought but a fundamental requirement. All our solutions, especially those involving Asset connectivity and communication are subject to the most rigorous cybersecurity standards, analysis, and assessments. Data privacy and legal investigations complete the process. One of the ways in which we guarantee cybersecurity standards is with the help of PKI (you can read more about how we work with PKI in this article).

Hopefully, this article gave you a peek into the “Magic” behind IoT Connectivity, a field where we’re not just connecting vehicles but we’re creating a network of limitless possibilities empowering the connected services of today and the future!

Bio: Johann Nishant
I am a Solution Architect working with Automotive Connectivity at Volvo Group Connected Solutions since 2017, I am passionate about the field of IoT connectivity and believe that it can truly change our world for the better, Apart from work, I grow, roast and competitively brew my own coffee & takes images of the Universe (https://jnishant.com/).