Zero Touch Project funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, File No. TSI-064200-2022-11, Call 2022
The project “Design of a Zero Touch Management Platform for 5G+ IoT Device Ecosystems,” File No. TSI-064200-2022-11, has been selected as one of the industrial research projects in advanced 5G technology, granted under the budget of the State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures.
What is Zero Touch?
Zero Touch is an advanced approach to the deployment and management of IoT devices, allowing for complete automation of processes traditionally done manually. In a typical IoT environment, each device would need to be individually configured and connected to the network, often requiring specialized knowledge and significant time investment. This manual process slows down large-scale IoT deployment and increases the risk of errors, security vulnerabilities, and higher operational costs.
By contrast, Zero Touch automates these tasks, enabling devices to be fully operational as soon as they are powered on. This is achieved through secure hardware modules that ensure devices establish a trusted network connection without human intervention. Once connected, the device automatically downloads configurations, applies the necessary security credentials, and integrates into the IoT ecosystem. This approach is essential for large-scale IoT deployments, where thousands of devices need to be online quickly and securely.
CLCircular IoT ecosystem
CLCircular’s IoT ecosystem is a sophisticated platform designed to transform the way businesses manage their logistics and supply chain operations. At its core, the ecosystem leverages a network of IoT sensors that are strategically deployed to monitor critical environmental and logistical parameters in real-time. These sensors are essential for tracking conditions such as temperature, humidity, and location, which are crucial for the safe transport and storage of sensitive goods.
The data collected by these sensors is fed into a comprehensive analytics platform that forms the backbone of the ecosystem. This platform processes vast amounts of data, providing businesses with actionable insights that can significantly enhance operational efficiency. For example, by continuously analyzing sensor data, the platform can identify patterns and anomalies, helping businesses detect potential issues like equipment malfunctions or environmental deviations before they become major problems. This proactive approach is particularly valuable for industries where maintaining strict environmental conditions is critical, such as pharmaceuticals and perishable goods.
Another key feature of CLCircular’s IoT ecosystem is its integration with cloud computing technologies. This integration enables scalable data management, allowing businesses to store, process, and access data from anywhere in the world in real-time. The cloud-based nature of the platform ensures that companies can maintain a global overview of their operations, making it easier to manage logistics across multiple locations.
CLCircular’s IoT ecosystem is also highly customizable, making it adaptable to the specific needs of different industries. Businesses can tailor the system to monitor the particular conditions most relevant to their operations, whether it’s ensuring that food products remain within a safe temperature range or that medical supplies are not exposed to damaging humidity levels. This flexibility makes CLCircular’s ecosystem a versatile tool for improving supply chain resilience and efficiency.
Transitioning to Zero Touch
Transitioning CLCircular’s IoT ecosystem to a “zero touch” model—where devices operate with minimal to no human intervention—presents significant advantages, primarily in terms of operational efficiency and scalability. By minimizing the need for human intervention, this approach allows for faster and more consistent deployment and management of IoT devices.
This transition has been initiated with the introduction of two cutting-edge solutions: Zero Touch Provisioning and Zero Touch Management. These innovations mark a significant shift towards automating and streamlining processes within the ecosystem, reducing the need for manual intervention.
CLCircular has successfully implemented a zero-touch provisioning solution within its IoT ecosystem, significantly enhancing the deployment and management of IoT devices. This solution automates the first configuration process, allowing devices to be ready for operation as soon as they are fabricated, without the need for manual intervention.
A key feature of this implementation is the seamless exchange of X.509 certificates, which is critical for enhancing security across the IoT network. By automating the issuance and management of these digital certificates, CLCircular ensures that each device is authenticated and that communication within the network is encrypted, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and cyber threats. This not only improves operational efficiency but also fortifies the security of the IoT ecosystem, making it a robust solution for businesses focused on secure and scalable logistics and supply chain operations.
CLCircular has implemented a Zero Touch Management solution to remotely control the power on and off functions of IoT devices, significantly simplifying their use. This automated approach allows devices to be managed efficiently without manual intervention, ensuring that they operate only when needed, which conserves energy and extends their operational lifespan. By incorporating this solution, CLCircular not only enhances the user experience but also promotes sustainable device management by maximizing battery efficiency across the ecosystem.
Conclusion
Automation ensures that devices can self-configure, update, and even troubleshoot, leading to a more streamlined and reliable operation. This efficiency not only reduces labor costs, but also significantly decreases the potential for human error, leading to more accurate data collection and processing.
Zero Touch Provisioning ensures that devices are seamlessly integrated and configured within the network from the moment they are powered on, while Zero Touch Management enables automated oversight and maintenance throughout the device lifecycle.
Together, these solutions lay the foundation for a more efficient, scalable, and secure IoT environment within CLCircular.
About the Author
Jimena Cabrejas is a distinguished telecommunications engineer with a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of the Basque Country, where she graduated with excellence, specializing in Telecommunication Systems. She began her career as an Adjunct Researcher at the I2T Research Group at UPV/EHU, where she focused on resource monitoring in Software Defined Networking (SDN). Her research and expertise later expanded to include Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), culminating in the publication of a paper in the MDPI journal.
With a strong background in developing Linux kernel drivers and patches for the aerospace and aeronautical sectors, Jimena has specialized in algorithm development, cloud solutions on AWS and Azure, network infrastructure, and embedded systems programming. Currently, she serves as an Engineer at CLCircular, where she leads backend development using AWS and embedded software projects.
About CLCircular
CLCircular is a pioneering company focused on transforming supply chain management through the digitalization of logistics and the reduction of losses. By leveraging cutting-edge IoT (Internet of Things) technology, CLCircular provides real-time visibility and data-driven insights into the conditions of goods during transit. This enables businesses to make informed decisions, prevent losses, and optimize their supply chains effectively.
Founded on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, and innovation, CLCircular offers a unique service that combines the rental and recovery of high-quality IoT sensors with an advanced collaborative platform. These sensors monitor a wide range of critical parameters, including temperature, humidity, impacts, door openings, and geographical position, ensuring that goods are tracked and maintained under optimal conditions throughout their journey.
The technology provided by CLCircular is designed to be both cost-effective and environmentally responsible. Sensors are rented to clients and retrieved after each use, cleaned, and prepared for reuse. This circular approach significantly reduces electronic waste and contributes to the sustainability goals of both CLCircular and its clients. Additionally, the platform allows for seamless integration with existing systems through APIs, offering customizable alerts, reports, and real-time data access.
CLCircular’s solutions are particularly valuable to industries where the integrity of goods is critical, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. With operations in ten countries and a growing portfolio of satisfied customers, CLCircular is making a significant impact on the global supply chain landscape by making advanced logistics technology accessible to all types of cargo.
Through continuous innovation and a strong commitment to sustainability, CLCircular is not only helping businesses protect their products, but also contributing to broader environmental and governance goals by reducing waste and emissions associated with supply chain inefficiencies.
