Mitsubishi Electric announced today that it has developed the BLEnDer ((short for Bid Liaison and Energy Dispatcher) ICE battery-powered wireless communication terminal for use in sensor networks to collect gas and water meter data and remotely control sensors in the networks. This terminal will enable meters to be automatically read and both monitored and controlled remotely to achieve greater efficiency in the maintenance operations of utilities and infrastructure operators. Since no external power supply is required, the BLEnDer ICE battery-powered terminal can be installed anywhere, including meters in locations where power supply is difficult.
BLEnDer (short for Bid Liaison and Energy Dispatcher) is a packaged software developed by Mitsubishi Electric in response to the changes in the power industry and support utilities to realize smarter and more efficient operations. The BLEnDer Intelligent Communication Edge (ICE) terminal will work together with the BLEnDer HE (Head End) software which manages and controls smart meters through various communication methods and the BLEnDer MESH software which utilizes wireless multi-hop communication to realize a wide range smart meter communication network at a low cost. Depending on usage conditions and the environment, it should be possible to use the device for up to 10 years, which is the lifespan of most meters.
