Edge AI research notes — SNNs & low-power ML
Spiking neural networks, neuromorphic compute, low-power on-device AI — and the edge-device problems that pointed us there.
The Akran IQ blog is a working notebook for research on spiking neural networks, neuromorphic compute, and ultra-low-power on-device AI. Posts are written when something is worth writing down — primers, experiments, benchmarks, and honest assessments of what works at the edge of compute and energy budgets.
Older posts cover the practical edge-device territory that pointed us toward this research direction: LPWAN protocols (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT), mesh networking (Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, Matter), CAN bus and industrial fieldbus integration, and the build-vs-buy trade-offs around hyperscaler IoT platforms. They stay published because the constraints they describe — tiny power budgets, intermittent connectivity, real-time deadlines — are exactly what makes event-driven neural compute interesting in the first place.
If a topic looks interesting and is missing, send a note — most pieces are drafted in response to questions from people working on the same problems.
Latest articles
LoRaWAN vs NB-IoT in 2026: A Practical Decision Guide for IoT Deployments
LoRaWAN and NB-IoT are the two dominant LPWAN technologies in 2026. This guide compares them on cost, coverage, battery life, latency, private network control, and total cost of ownership, with clear recommendations for smart metering, agriculture, logistics, and industrial IoT.
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Fiber-Optic Drones Explained: Why Militaries Are Ditching RF Control Links
Fiber-optic drones use ultra-thin optical fibers instead of radio waves to transmit control signals and HD video. Immune to jamming, low-latency, and high-bandwidth, they are reshaping battlefield surveillance and industrial tethered operations in 2026. Here is how the technology works and where it fits.
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Bluetooth Mesh vs Thread vs Matter in 2026: When to Choose What
Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, and Matter are often lumped together but they solve different problems. This guide breaks down what each actually is, where they overlap, and how to pick the right stack for smart homes, commercial buildings, and industrial IoT deployments in 2026.
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Convert PNG Gas Meters to Smart Meters at Scale: LPWAN vs WiFi Mesh vs Bluetooth Mesh for Gas Utilities
City gas distribution companies and housing societies can convert existing PNG diaphragm meters into smart gas meters using wireless networks. This guide compares LPWAN (LoRaWAN), WiFi mesh, and Bluetooth mesh on safety, cost, latency, and scalability for society-level gas meter reading in India.
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Convert Electric Meters to Smart Meters at Scale: LPWAN vs WiFi Mesh vs Bluetooth Mesh Compared
Housing societies and commercial campuses can convert existing electric meters into smart meters using master-slave network architectures. This guide compares LPWAN (LoRaWAN), WiFi mesh, and Bluetooth mesh on cost, latency, range, scalability, and real-world deployment for society-level meter reading.
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Akraniq vs ThingsBoard: Which IoT Platform Is Right for Indian SMBs?
A detailed comparison of Akraniq and ThingsBoard for Indian sensor companies, EV OEMs, and factory owners — covering deployment model, edge AI, India-specific support, pricing, and compliance.
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AWS IoT Core vs Managed IoT Platform: When to Build vs Buy in 2026
AWS IoT Core gives you building blocks but not a product. This article breaks down the hidden costs of building on AWS IoT Core and when a managed platform like Akraniq makes more sense for hardware companies and SMBs.
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Beyond GPS: Implementing Self-Diagnostic AI in EV Scooters to Reduce Warranty Costs
EV scooter OEMs are bleeding money on warranty claims and service center visits. Self-diagnostic AI that monitors motor temperature, brake wear, and battery health in real time can predict failures before the rider notices and cut warranty costs by 30 to 40 percent.
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EU Cyber Resilience Act Compliance Checklist for IoT Sensor Manufacturers in 2026
The EU Cyber Resilience Act is now law and IoT sensor manufacturers must comply by 2027. This practical checklist covers every requirement so you can ship to Europe without delays or fines.
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Implementing On-Device Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance in Pumps
Cloud-based predictive maintenance adds latency and cost. Running ML models directly on edge devices gives you faster predictions, lower bandwidth usage, and maintenance alerts that work even when the network goes down.
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Low-Latency MQTT Bridge for Legacy RS485 Sensors in 2026
Legacy RS485 sensors are everywhere in factories but they cannot talk to modern IoT platforms. An MQTT bridge solves this without rewiring or replacing hardware. Here is how to build one that keeps latency under 100ms.
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AIoT vs. Traditional IoT: Which Implementation Path is Right for Your Product?
Traditional IoT collects data. AIoT acts on it. This side-by-side comparison breaks down latency, cloud costs, decision speed, and scalability so you can pick the right path for your product.
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Why Your Sensors Need Cognitive Layers: Moving Beyond Simple Data Collection
Most industrial sensors just collect numbers. Adding a cognitive layer turns them from data reporters into intelligent agents that predict failures and act autonomously. Here is why and how.
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From Analog to Smart: A 5-Step Guide to Retrofitting Digital Meters with IoT
Replacing thousands of analog meters is not practical. This step-by-step guide shows how to retrofit existing meters with IoT for real-time data, smart billing, and cognitive analytics without ripping anything out.
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How IoT Cuts Field Service Costs for Wastewater and ZLD Plant Management in India
Wastewater and ZLD plants spend lakhs every month on field technician visits. IoT remote monitoring can cut those costs dramatically while keeping you CPCB compliant. Here is how it works.
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IoT Security for Fleets and Factories: What You Actually Need to Get Right in 2026
IoT devices in your fleet or factory are potential entry points for attackers. This guide covers the real security risks, what to do about them, and how to build a secure IoT system without overcomplicating things.
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IoT Communication Protocols for Faster Response and Lowest Latency in 2026
Choosing the right communication protocol decides how fast your IoT system responds. This guide compares MQTT, CoAP, AMQP, HTTP, WebSocket, CAN bus, OPC UA, and LoRaWAN for real-world IoT deployments in 2026.
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How Cognitive IoT Is Turning Conventional Factories into Dark Factories
Dark factories run with minimal human intervention. Cognitive IoT makes this possible even for old, dirty, conventional factories. Here is how the transformation works, step by step, and how you can start today.
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VPN-Based Data Collection vs Agent-Based IoT: Which One Should You Choose?
Two popular ways to collect data from machines and devices. VPN tunnels your existing systems to the cloud. Agent-based IoT puts smart software on each device. Here is an honest side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right approach.
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Common Mistakes Industries Are Still Making When Adopting IoT in 2026
Most IoT projects still fail for the same preventable reasons. Wrong technology choices, vertical scaling, Docker on edge devices, and bad protocol selection. Here is what to avoid and what to do instead.
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What Is Edge Cloud? Why It Beats Traditional Cloud for IoT and How to Adopt It
Edge cloud brings computing power closer to your devices. Learn what edge cloud is, how it compares to centralized cloud, why industries are adopting it, and how Akran IQ can help you make the shift.
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From IoT to AIoT to Cognitive IoT: How Edge AI Is Changing Everything
The IoT industry is evolving fast. This article explains how we went from basic IoT to AIoT to Cognitive IoT, why Edge AI matters so much, and how your business can benefit from these platforms today.
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What Is a Cognitive IoT Platform? The Next Evolution Beyond AIoT
Cognitive IoT goes beyond basic AI + IoT. Learn what a cognitive IoT platform is, how it differs from AIoT, real-world use cases in EV fleets and manufacturing, and why it will define the next generation of connected operations.
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How to Connect EV BMS to an IoT Cloud Platform
A step-by-step guide to streaming battery management system data from your electric vehicle fleet to the cloud for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
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CAN Bus Data Logging with IoT: A Guide for Fleet Managers
Learn how CAN bus data logging works, what parameters matter most, and how to set up an end-to-end pipeline from vehicle to dashboard.
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IoT Energy Monitoring for SME Factories in India
How small and mid-sized Indian manufacturers can cut electricity bills by 10-25% using IoT-based machine-level energy monitoring.
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AWS IoT Core vs Azure IoT Hub: Which Is Right for Your Fleet?
A practical comparison of the two leading cloud IoT platforms, covering device management, pricing model, analytics, edge capabilities, and when to choose one over the other.
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