As smart technology and AI are adapted into more areas of industrialization, these technologies are entering conditions once believed too harsh or hazardous for reliable wireless connectivity. Into this new frontier steps Digi International, who earlier this year unveiled its Digi IX30, an industrial-hardened cellular router solution for harsh environments. Below, Sayeed Quazi, senior principal product manager at Digi, explains how this product could prove an all-in-one solution for clients in industries such as oil and gas production, water utilities, smart cities, and more. 

MPT: Could you tell us how Digi IX30 fits into your company’s overall product line and what needs it is meeting in the market?

Sayeed Quazi: Digi IX30, the newest member of our next-generation IX family of devices, builds on our widely successful legacy of industrial cellular routers. The ruggedized IX30, with additional compute for edge applications and additional analog and digital I/O, reduces the points of failure by eliminating the need for additional equipment. Its faster performance and LTE speeds deliver greater value through a complete, cost-effective IoT solution and significantly reduces OPEX in the most challenging deployment.

Digi IX30 is powered by Digi Remote Manager (Digi RM) and the Digi Accelerated Linux operating system (DAL OS). Digi RM is the command center of an intelligent network, enabling companies to efficiently configure, deploy, monitor, and manage tens of thousands of mission-critical devices and assets from a single desktop, tablet, or smartphone. DAL OS, along with Digi RM, enables programmability for edge intelligence applications, interoperability for legacy serial devices/protocols, and MQTT Sparkplug B. These capabilities deliver critical connectivity between devices and sensors in the Industry 4.0 ecosystem, allowing users to experience high levels of security, control, and performance.

MPT: In preparing this product for release, how did you assess its readiness for harsh industrial environments?

Sayeed Quazi: Digi has designed its entire industrial (IX) product family to meet high-performance requirements in harsh environments with wide temperature ranges. Its Class 1, Division 2 (C1D2), and ATEX certifications makes it suitable for environments where potentially explosive gases, vapors, dust, or fibers may be present, and its DIN rail mounting design enables easy installation in field containers and cabinets. 

MPT: Does it require specialized connectivity or is it ready for public or private cellular networks right out of the box?

Sayeed Quazi: Digi IX30 delivers fast performance for public, private, and hybrid network deployments that support both licensed spectrum and CBRS Band 48 to enable migration between multiple networks in a single SKU. A future variant of Digi IX30 will include Anterix Band 8 along with Anterix Active certification to offer public and Anterix private cellular network support. 

MPT: How adaptable is the Digi IX30? What options do potential customers have in incorporating it to their system?

Sayeed Quazi: Digi IX30 has the highest number of analog and digital I/O and serial ports along with rich protocol support and offers versatile integration options to manage a large of number of legacy systems from a single piece of equipment.

Digi IX30 was designed with dual Ethernet ports and GNSS, as well as support for remote sensors with four analog and four digital inputs and outputs. Leveraging its new Python programming implementation that provides interoperability with legacy serial devices/protocols, the Digi IX30 solution brings greater reliability, simplicity, and security to edge computing.

For customers who deploy and manage systems globally, Digi’s IX line provides a single SKU for high-volume global deployment, which simplifies inventory and reduces the costs of global distribution, deployment,
and management.

MODERN PUMPING TODAY, December 2022
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