Enhancing Edge Computing Efficiency with AirLink® Routers and AWS IoT Greengrass

At Semtech®, we’re always looking for ways to make it easier for developers to deploy and manage code while enhancing IoT device capabilities. That’s why we’re excited to announce the support of AWS IoT Greengrass on the AirLink® XR60 5G Router. This integration brings additional powerful edge computing capabilities to Semtech’s routers, enabling seamless deployment and management of AWS IoT Greengrass based functionality at the edge. 

AirLink® Routers: Empowering Edge Computing 

Engineered for rugged, space-constrained environments, the ultra-compact AirLink XR60 router delivers unparalleled performance with cutting-edge 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. This router seamlessly combines advanced networking capabilities, support for private networks, and edge computing functionality to meet today’s demands while preparing you for the future.  

The XR60 router now supports AWS IoT Greengrass v2.14, which utilizes the second nucleus rewritten in C++ enabling a smaller footprint. The edge computing enabled router comes backed by 5 years of hardware warranty, technical support, and remote management capabilities through AirLink Complete.  Here’s why this is significant: 

Build Once, Deploy Anywhere
Developers can build and test their edge computing code once and deploy it to their AirLink XR60 router or to the cloud. Whether it’s an XR60, the cloud, or your development environment the same AWS IoT Greengrass-enabled code can be used, streamlining development efforts. 

Simplified Software Updates
Managing software updates can be complex, especially in large-scale IoT deployments. AWS IoT Greengrass simplifies this process by allowing over-the-air updates directly to the routers. No need for manual intervention—updates are seamlessly delivered through AWS IoT Greengrass.   

Use Cases 

1 Industrial Applications
Industries such as oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing often rely on routers with limited or intermittent connectivity to the cloud. In these scenarios, IoT sensors generate significant data volumes. AWS IoT Greengrass on AirLink routers enables intensive edge processing, allowing data to be processed locally and stored until a stable connection is available. 

2 Factory Automation
Factory automation relies on machinery that may not be IP-connected. Traditionally, bridging to an IP router and protocol translations required additional compute hardware. With AWS IoT Greengrass on AirLink routers, this complexity is eliminated. The routers handle edge processing, simplifying workflows and reducing the need for extra devices. 

3 Video Surveillance
Video surveillance systems produce massive amounts of data. Sending raw video to the cloud, even when compressed, can strain network bandwidth and incur costs. AirLink routers, equipped with high-power Armv8-A multi-core processors, excel at processing video data at the edge. Customers can extract valuable insights locally, minimizing cellular connectivity requirements. 

The above use cases are often solved today by a combination of a cellular router and an industrial PC running AWS IoT Greengrass. With the introduction of AWS IoT Greengrass support on the AirLink XR60, the AWS IoT Greengrass workload can transition to the router often eliminating the need for an additional industrial PC. This can result in a reduction in cabinet size, power consumption, solar panel requirements, complexity, and of course overall costs, whilst bringing the speed of 5G networks. 

Semtech’s integration of AWS IoT Greengrass v2.14 with AirLink Routers significantly enhances edge computing efficiency, making it easier for developers to deploy and manage code while enhancing the capabilities of IoT devices. Whether it’s industrial applications, factory automation, or video surveillance, the powerful combination of AWS IoT Greengrass and AirLink routers unlocks new possibilities for edge computing.