The design of a remote meter acquisition module based on 6LoWPAN

Smart meter, as a key part of the smart grid, is responsible for collecting the user characteristics in the advanced metering infrastructure. As more and more applications have been upgraded to the IPv6 protocol, 6LoWPAN can potentially replace the ZigBee as the standard protocol in the “Internet of Things” area. Representing an application of IPv6 technology in the smart metering, this article introduces the design of an electricity information acquisition module. With STM32 microprocessor and SI4432 RF transmitter/receiver embedded in this module, a LAN has been set up for the data transmission based on the 6LoWPAN. The individual and system tests of this advanced module have shown its robustness, interference immunity, high network stability and lower power consumption comparing with other modules with different hardware and operating systems.