Field testing of IoT devices under extreme conditions
Storm loads, aggressive environments, and real frontline personnel
Information on topic
Laboratory tests and climatic chambers demonstrate the behavior of equipment in an isolated environment. However, they are unable to reproduce the combination of factors present in real-world operation: sharp temperature fluctuations, storm loads, aggressive environments, and actions by linear personnel.
We offer developers and manufacturers of IoT solutions a program of field-testing on three operational experimental sites with extreme climatic and operational characteristics.
Our approach excludes artificial simulation. We integrate your sensors, controllers, and actuators into real working processes, where they are subjected to natural stresses and serviced by linear personnel.
What is tested during the trials:
- Human factor resistance: assessment of personnel interaction with the interface, connectors, mounting elements, and housing during installation, setup, and power component replacement.
- Communication stability and autonomy: verification of radio modules' operation (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, Wi-Fi, GSM) in conditions of real interference, complex terrain, and distance from base stations.
- Hidden hardware vulnerabilities: detection of condensation, overheating under direct sunlight, dust accumulation, or freezing of elements, which are difficult to simulate on test benches.
- Integration and telemetry: recording of failures, errors, and overall equipment behavior when connected to the operational automation system "Symbiosei."
Experimental sites with extreme climates
There are three locations available for testing, each providing different types of loads:
Site | Climatic Conditions | Infrastructure and Test Specifics |
1. Northern France (Lille) | *Mild winter with high humidity. *Critical number of freeze-thaw cycles (constant temperature transition through 0°C). | *Highly skilled linear personnel. *Ideal site for testing enclosures for microcracks due to moisture freezing, as well as for continuous refinement, calibration, and debugging of the device during operational testing. |
2. Northern Tenerife Island (1000 meters above sea level) | *High solar radiation (summer UV index reaches 14 due to atmospheric transparency). | *Experimental farm with complex mountainous terrain. *Presence of flat terraces and rocky areas on the northern, western, and eastern slopes for radio coverage stress testing. |
3. South Sinai Peninsula (Red Sea coast) | *Extreme temperatures: from +10°C in winter to +55°C in the shade in summer. *High concentration of salty dust and summer salty mists. *Strong winds - up to 30 m/s in gusts. | *Salty desert. Maximum stress test for cooling systems, dust and moisture protection. *The local eco-hotel serves as the testing base. *Linear personnel - exclusively local specialists (checking device ergonomics in harsh climatic conditions). |
Testing Procedure
1. Technical Audit: analysis of your specifications and device parameters. Selection of test site and agreement on the testing program.
2. Deployment and Integration: equipment placement on the premises, connection to the Symbiosei ecosystem for telemetry collection and real-time monitoring.
Remote Monitoring: All performance indicators of your devices will be available to you online.
3. Field Stage: operation of devices within a real work cycle (from several weeks to months) with involvement of line personnel.
4. Final Report: in addition to providing detailed communication logs, hardware failure records, equipment behavior data, and feedback from personnel after operation, you will receive an engineering report with recommendations for improvement (Hardware & Firmware Vulnerability Report).
Field tests allow for the detection of structural and software defects before launching the device into mass production and integration at the end customer's side.
Submit a description of your equipment and critical operating conditions through the application form. Our engineer will contact you to create the testing program.
