IoT Telemetry Systems with FDX

June 30, 2021

How FDX Ingeniería Uses MaxBotix Ultrasonic Sensors for Remote Wastewater and River Level Monitoring

What is FDX Ingeniería de Desarrollo?

FDX Ingeniería de Desarrollo is an Argentina-based engineering company specializing in industrial telemetry, remote monitoring systems, and IoT data acquisition. The company designs autonomous monitoring solutions for harsh and remote environments where reliable power management, data storage, and wireless communication are critical.

FDX helps utilities, industrial operators, and infrastructure managers monitor environmental and operational data in real time, reducing the need for manual inspections and improving system visibility across distributed assets.

What Challenges Exist in Remote Wastewater and River Level Monitoring?

Monitoring wastewater systems, sewage infrastructure, and river levels in remote locations presents several key challenges:

Limited or no access to power, requiring ultra-low energy systems
Harsh environmental conditions, including moisture, flooding, and corrosive gases
Difficult site access, making maintenance costly and infrequent
Need for reliable remote data transmission across distributed infrastructure
Long-term data storage and system reliability requirements

To address these challenges, FDX needed a telemetry solution that could:

Provide accurate non-contact level measurement for wastewater and environmental applications
Operate autonomously on battery power for extended periods
Enable remote monitoring and data transmission
Withstand harsh industrial and outdoor environments
Integrate sensing, storage, and communication into a single, deployable system

How Does FDX Use Ultrasonic Sensors for Remote Monitoring?

FDX integrated MaxBotix ultrasonic sensors into its telemetry and datalogger platforms to support remote level monitoring across wastewater systems, sewage networks, and river installations.

Initially deployed in the FDX-RA1-3G platform, the solution has evolved into the SenIQ product family, including the SenIQ-US datalogger designed specifically for ultrasonic level measurement.

What Does the SenIQ-US Platform Do?

The SenIQ-US platform combines:

Ultrasonic sensing
Remote telemetry
Onboard data logging
Cloud connectivity
Battery-powered operation

This all-in-one system enables continuous monitoring in remote environments with minimal maintenance.

It also allows operators to:

Schedule measurement and transmission cycles independently
Capture frequent readings while optimizing data transmission intervals
Extend battery life without sacrificing monitoring accuracy

Key Features of the SenIQ-US Remote Monitoring System

Ultra-low power operation for long-term deployment
Battery autonomy exceeding one year (based on configuration)
Wireless connectivity options including 3G, LTE-CAT-M1, and NB-IoT
Cloud-based monitoring and remote configuration
Internal data logging with expandable cloud storage
IP68-rated enclosure for harsh environmental protection
Multi-variable monitoring, including humidity and temperature

Characteristics of the Unit

Ultra low power consumption: <100uA in sleep mode.	Internal storage for +10000 samples.
Unlimited external storage on FDX-GT or FDX-CLOUD.	Internal temperature and humidity measurement.
IP68 protection.	Remote configuration via FDX-GT or FDX-CLOUD.
Internal battery power supply with one year life under the following conditions: 1 measurement and 1 transmission every 1 hour.

Applications Served:

Levels of water effluents are monitored.
Monitoring the levels of sewage liquid
Network pressure remote monitoring

Why Use MaxBotix Ultrasonic Sensors for Wastewater Monitoring?

FDX selected MaxBotix ultrasonic sensors because they meet the demands of remote industrial telemetry applications.

Key Benefits of Ultrasonic Sensors in This Application

Non-contact measurement, ideal for wastewater and corrosive environments
Low power consumption, supporting battery-operated IoT systems
Easy integration into embedded telemetry platforms
Reliable performance in outdoor and industrial conditions
Long-term stability for autonomous monitoring systems

For remote installations with limited maintenance access, sensor reliability and energy efficiency are critical to reducing downtime and operational costs.

What Results Did FDX Achieve?

By integrating MaxBotix ultrasonic sensors with its telemetry infrastructure, FDX delivers fully autonomous remote monitoring systems capable of operating in demanding field environments.

Outcomes for Utilities and Operators

Real-time visibility into wastewater and river levels
Reduced reliance on manual inspections
Lower infrastructure and maintenance costs
Faster response to environmental changes and system issues
Scalable deployment across distributed monitoring sites

Key Takeaway: Why Ultrasonic Sensors Are Ideal for Remote Environmental Monitoring

MaxBotix ultrasonic sensors enable low-power, long-term IoT monitoring for wastewater, sewage, and environmental applications.

When integrated into platforms like the SenIQ-US datalogger, they provide:

Reliable remote level measurement
Durable performance in harsh environments
Efficient battery-powered operation
Seamless wireless connectivity

This makes them a strong solution for infrastructure systems that require continuous monitoring with minimal maintenance.

Need Help Choosing the Right Ultrasonic Sensor?

Not sure if MaxBotix sensors are the right fit for your application? Contact our team today to discuss your remote monitoring requirements and find the best solution.