What is Machine to Machine (M2M)?

Machine-to-machine, or M2M, is a broad term that refers to any technology that allows networked devices to exchange information and perform actions without the need for human intervention. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) facilitate system communication and allow them to make autonomous decisions.

 

M2M technology was first used in manufacturing and industrial settings, where other technologies like SCADA and remote monitoring assisted in remotely managing and controlling data from equipment. M2M has since found use in other industries such as healthcare, business, and insurance. M2M is also the underlying technology for the internet of things (IoT).

 

What do we understand by Machine to Machine?  

 

Machine-to-machine, or M2M, refers to the automated exchange of information between devices that do not require human intervention. Machine-to-machine technology is used in a variety of applications, ranging from machine monitoring and control to search engine indexing.

 

Intelligent machines can exchange information and even coordinate and perform actions without the need for human intervention. This article will teach you the fundamentals of M2M communication, such as how it came about, how it works, and when and where it is used. Discover the benefits of this technology for your own company.

 

M2M communication is a concept that refers to communication that involves the exchange of data between two or more machines without the use of a human interface or intervention. The network of communication between machines can be wired or wireless, and it works in conjunction with IoT technology.

 

M2M communication is commonly used to refer to cellular communication for embedded devices. ATMs, for example, may be authorized to dispense a specific amount.
 

 

Also Read | Popular IoT Devices & Products

 

Difference Between IoT and M2M

 

Within the technological realm, there is a subtle distinction between M2M and IoT. Both cater to the exchange and communication of data that serves as connectivity solutions, resulting in a misunderstanding that allows the two terms to be used interchangeably. Though both advancements discuss remote device access extensively, they differ in terms of how they achieve connectivity. Let's go diving and exploring!

 

• In terms of primary distinction, M2M is the forerunner of IoT. M2M is the foundation that regulates and conducts connectivity, upon which IoT technology is built as technology advances. M2M communications are focused on point-to-point communication using hardware components embedded in the machine

 

• In terms of connectivity, M2M connects machines to machines. IoT, on the other hand, connects machines to machines, integrates web applications, and transfers data to a cloud where it is consolidated in digital format and communicated to the receiver as real-time data.

 

In short, IoT is a broader vision that is fueled by emerging innovations and M2M application advancements. M2M does not require IoT in order to function, whereas IoT requires M2M in order to progress.

 

Also Read | IoT in Data Analytics 

 

Why is Machine to Machine Important? 

 

M2M communication is a type of point-to-point communication in which the network transmits data using public networking technologies such as Ethernet and cellular networks. Sensor telemetry is one of the M2M applications. M2M is being used by businesses to remotely monitor variables such as temperature, energy consumption, moisture, pressure, and so on. ATM is the second example of M2M. The internal computer of the ATM is in constant communication with a host computer, which routes appropriate banks and accounts. The bank returns approval codes via the host computer, allowing transactions to proceed. The entire transaction takes place remotely, with no human interaction on the bank's end. Machines communicate effectively, allowing transactions to be authorized in seconds.

 

The primary goal of machine-to-machine technology is to collect sensor data and send it to a network. Unlike SCADA or other remote monitoring tools, M2M systems frequently use public networks and access methods, such as cellular or Ethernet, to reduce costs. Sensors and RFID, a Wi-Fi or cellular communications link, and autonomic computing software programmed to assist a network device in interpreting data and making decisions are the main components of an M2M system. These M2M applications translate data into preprogrammed, automated actions.

 

There was a time when the cost of owning a high-tech machine was prohibitively expensive due to costly spare parts and a lack of local knowledge for repair and maintenance (expert mechanics from foreign countries was required to be flown to attend to those machines). Over the last decade, the software procurement model has shifted from ownership to subscription; software is now offered as a service, and remote desktop control via the internet has replaced on-site visits for problem resolution. In the same vein, M2M may do the same for hardware in the coming decade. High-tech machines can be remotely repaired using internet commands.

 

M2M possibilities are endless: a central design office can make changes to CAD patterns, and those changes are automatically reflected in all vendors' CAD files; cutting rooms of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities can be monitored and maintained by a centralized maintenance team located anywhere, and a production manager can set the SPI of a sewing floor in Dhaka from here in India (possibly 500 machines!). Merchandisers' work patterns in ERP software can be remotely monitored and improvements suggested, and/or misuse reported, via data transfer from a central server from anywhere in the world, and much more such information, which was previously acquired manually, would be available in real-time.

 

Types of Machine to Machine Communication

 

M2M communication can be classified into two types: wired communication and wireless communication. Each of these works in a slightly different way.

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Types of Machine to Machine Communication 

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1. Wired M2M Communication:

 

The data transfer between devices in wired M2M communication takes place over a wired transfer medium. Fiber optic cables, EtherCAT, or even coaxial cables can be used. Communication between devices in the same LAN network connected only by wires is also included in wired M2M communication.

 

Wired communication networks are becoming increasingly scarce. The majority of use cases are shifting to wireless networks. When wireless signals are susceptible to interference, wired networks are used. It is also used in legacy systems where upgrading communication networks to a wireless system can be difficult.

 

2. Wireless M2M Communication:

 

Wireless M2M communication occurs when machines use wireless communication methodologies to communicate between devices. The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to M2M communication that primarily uses a wireless network for communication. Wireless communication methodologies used range from radio waves to the most recent 5G technology.

 

• RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is an ancient technology that has withstood the test of time. RFID technology uses radio wave frequency to communicate and transfer data wirelessly. It is now widely used in the logistics industry to track a package from beginning to end. It is also used in blockchains for provenance technology.

 

• NFC - Near-Field Communication (NFC) is similar to RFID, but it can only be used for short-range data transfer. It's common in access control and payment systems. NFC technology is used to transfer data in payment applications such as Apple Pay and contactless credit cards. It can also be used as an efficient mode of communication to transfer data between smartphones in close proximity.

 

• WiFi, or wireless fidelity, is a popular method of wireless internet access in homes and offices. Data can also be transferred between devices connected to the same WiFi network using the same network. Many newer iterations of WiFi technology have increased bandwidth and decreased communication latency. WiFi 6e, the most recent WiFi technology approved by the FCC, has the potential to significantly improve IIoT communication.

 

• Cellular networks can be used for wireless M2M communication as well. The first wireless credit card readers communicated using GSM or other 2G technologies. Communication was later possible via HSPA (3G) and LTE (4G) networks. Wireless communication is now on the verge of being disrupted by 5G communication technologies. In terms of bandwidth and latency, 5G technology vastly outperforms 4G technology. Over a 5G network, thousands of devices would be able to 'talk to each other' very quickly and with very little lag. The implementation of 5G in the industrial setting is said to be the beginning of a new industrial revolution.

 

Applications of Machine to Machine Communication 

 

Some of the major applications of Machine to Machine Communication:- 

 

• Utility companies:

 

M2M communication is used by all utility companies for harvesting energy products as well as billing customers. These harvested energy products can be gas, oil, and so on, and in both cases, two or more modern machines communicate with each other in a synchronized manner. The use of remote sensors on oil drilling sites aids in the detection of all important parameters that indicate the presence of oil in any given field. These remote sensors can also wirelessly transmit data to a remote computer, such as flow rates, temperature, required pressure, fuel levels in oil drilling machines, and so on.

 

 

• Traffic management:

 

The traffic control system is another popular application for M2M communication. Sensors are used in any typical traffic control system to monitor variables such as traffic speed and volume. High-end software is used to send this information across computers that control traffic-control devices such as variable traffic information signs and lights. This software is capable of maximizing traffic flow by manipulating the devices with the help of this incoming data.

 

 

• Telemedicine: 

 

Telemedicine is a popular area of application for Machine 2 Machine communication. We've seen heart patients wearing specialized monitors that collect data on their heart's working conditions. This data is sent to the implanted electronic devices, which deliver shocks to the patient to correct any irregular rhythms.

 

 

• Telemetry: 

 

Telemetry is an area where M2M technology has been used for over a century. Wireless and compact systems that use M2M to send and receive information across hundreds of miles have been introduced to replace wired telemetry systems.

 

Thus, in the end, The  M2M technology appears to be very bright, and its flexibility will undoubtedly be of great use in all types of businesses.