Sensor types
In order to cover all the environmental monitoring use cases identified by Ambios, we need different types of sensors. While this mix may change over time, and new categories could be created to capture demand and commercial value, taking a view of the sensors already live on our network we can categorize participating devices as follows:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Outdoor | Including premium (formerly known as Type 1 like TEA’s Airqino devices) and consumer (formerly known as Type 2 like TEA’s Turtle devices) grade outdoor sensors |
| Indoor | Including premium (formerly known as Type 3 like Kaiterra’s Sensedge Mini devices) and consumer (formerly known as Type 4 like Terrabee’s IN5 devices) grade indoor sensors |
| Wearable | Specific to wearable and portable consumer (formerly known as Type 4 like Atmo’s Atmotube PRO) grade sensors |
| Commodity | Specific to data capture derived from Ambios’ smartphone application AmbiGo! |
Each category represents a total number of metrics captured, which in turn determines the maximum number of streams to be rewarded. Example metrics include:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Outdoor | PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, CO, temperature, humidity |
| Indoor | PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, CO2, temperature, humidity |
| Wearable | PM1, PM2.5, PM10, VOC, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure |
| Commodity | Location and qualitative environmental data |
This categorization becomes more evident when viewed from a data sales perspective, apart from a desire to simplify. Outdoor metrics remain most valuable for global weather and mapping providers, while the majority of indoor deployments do not lead to commercial demand, though we are exploring the creation of an enterprise grade indoor category that could challenge that. Data from wearables is likely to be less reliable and of lower commercial value, while participation from smartphones represents a promotional opportunity to grow the network, create a funnel for sensor ownership, and generate a clear set of location-based revenues. This matrix allows Ambios to consider sensors deployed to date, as well as the introduction of future sensors with additional capabilities and metrics captured, enabling a dynamic balance of rewards based on the total achievable metrics by category.
Sensor Limitations Per Household
Considering the focus of the network needs to reflect the commercial realities of the environmental monitoring market, indoor sensors are primarily offered as a way to educate, increase awareness, and to help improve indoor conditions. To this end, there some limitations per household desiring more indoor devices at the same address, including:
- It’s possible to deploy different types of sensors in the same household (i.e. 1 Airqino and 1 IN5)
- More than one of the same type of sensors (i.e. 2 IN5) are not supported in the same household
- Same type sensors can be deployed in the same location (i.e. different floors) only if the sensors do not share the same Internet connection and IP address
Enterprise deployments requiring multiple indoor sensors do not fall under the same conditions as part of larger commercial use cases.
Sensor Reputation System
Each sensor is awarded a 100-point setup bonus the first time it is connected to the Ambios network. The performance of each sensor in the network is assessed daily and a score is assigned. If a sensor has delivered more than 50% of the expected daily data streams, it is deemed qualifying and it earns one point.
If the sensor fails to deliver more than 50% of the expected daily data streams, it is not qualifying and loses one point. In each hex, the sensor that gets installed first and streams data for at least 30 qualifying days from that hex is entitled to a 100-point Pioneer bonus. These bonuses can only be earned once in a sensor’s lifetime, even if the sensor changes location.
For a given sensor, a Local Reputation Score applies in each hex. If a sensor is moved to a new location in another hex, its Local Reputation Score in this new location starts at 0, regardless of its score in the previous hex(s). Over time, it will earn reputation points in the new hex (if it qualifies) and lose points in the old one(s).
The Global Reputation Score of a sensor, summed across all relevant hexes, is only relevant in the context of governance since voting rights are linked to a sensor’s aggregate reputation score across all hexes.