LoRaWAN is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol designed for long-range, low-bandwidth communication. It is especially suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, where devices need to send small data packets over long distances with minimal energy use.
Key Characteristics of LoRaWAN
- Long Range: LoRaWAN supports communication over several kilometers, even in challenging environments such as urban areas or buildings. This is achieved through a unique modulation technique
- Low Power Consumption: The protocol is optimized for battery-powered devices, allowing years of operation on a single battery, which reduces maintenance and operational costs
- Open Standard: Managed by the LoRa Alliance, LoRaWAN is an open standard that ensures interoperability and promotes global adoption
- Secure Communication: LoRaWAN includes built-in security mechanisms such as end-to-end encryption, device authentication, and integrity protection to safeguard data transmission
Components of a LoRaWAN Network
End Devices (Sensors)
Sensors collect and send data to the Gateway. In the RATIONAL environment, examples include:
- WTS-10
- WTS-11
- WTS-12
Gateways
Gateways receive data from end devices and forward it to the network server. They function as communication bridges. Examples used by RATIONAL:
- WGT-11
Network Server
The network server manages data routing, device authentication, and security enforcement. At RATIONAL, the ChirpStack platform is used as the network server.
Application Server
The application server provides the interface to end-user applications by receiving and processing the data from the network server. In the RATIONAL context, this is ConnectedCooking.
LoRaWAN enables scalable, low-cost, and secure IoT deployments, making it a key component in modern digital infrastructure for industrial and smart environment solutions.
