Intro
Anka Labs is building internet of things labs; creating hardware and software solutions focusing on edge computing methodologies.
Overview
The Problem
Commercial buildings rely on an array of devices to control services including HVAC, lighting, physical security, energy and other mechanical systems that ensure the facility operates to the needs of the occupants and building owners. These systems are commonly known as BAS/BMS (Building Automation Systems or Building Management Systems). For 30 years, these systems have relied on DDC (Direct Digital Controllers) as the primary class of edge computing devices, typically 8-bit processors networked on low-bandwidth serial networks that are adequate for their needs.
In recent years, there has been growing pressure for BAS/BMS to use
IT-based technologies including Ethernet networks, Internet Protocol (IP), WiFi networks, open-source software, big data methodologies, and analytics. Initial use of these were found primaily in the on-premise PCs typically found in control rooms, engineer offices and in gateway devices that translate DDC device information into more useful
IT-centric data norms.
Enabled by the continuation of Moore’s Law, smaller and smaller devices provide ample power and robustness to be used in lieu of conventional DDC devices. This, in combination with advancements in powerful open software platforms, is enabling cost-effective development of a new class of devices that combine control and data analytics that we call EAC (Edge Analytics Controllers).
Anka Labs Solution
Anka Labs’ mission is to develop and bring to market a new software stack destined to operate in EAC class devices, to provide the functions of the old DDC, combined with advanced analytics capability both onboard in control devices and in the cloud, coupled with a mechanism for extensibility through the creation of an App Store. We call this software stack AnkaStack (Anka Device Operating System).
AnkaStack is based on a number of open-source bodies of work from the IT and BAS industries. We combine this with a number of commercial software solutions, developed by Anka Labs and other leading technology companies in the space.
The resulting stack provides significant value by bringing the buildings market a new generation of true EACs that provide smarter, more efficient control.
The integration of these components is key to the value of AnkaStack. Our understanding of the needs of the market, combined with experience in past work and our relationships with key thought leaders in the industry, enables us to create a unique solution for the burgeoning space.
Buildings Revolution
The BAS industry is in the midst of a major sea change. The industry is slowly morphing from the past of pneumatic systems (pre-1980, still in many buildings today and the early electronic and digital era (1980-1990’s, installed in majority of building systems today), then into the networking era (2000’s, current offerings), and now into the data era, incorporating the changes brought about by big data and analytics.
The
Accolades
Reaction to early versions of AnkaStack has been consistently very positive on the part of leading industry players.
“As one of the pioneers in data analytics for machine data and the IoT, we at SkyFoundry believe it is clear that the future of data-driven applications requires the processing of data and sophisticated analytics at the ‘edge’. It is simply not possible, desirable or cost-effective to transmit every piece of data from every device to the cloud before value can be derived from that data.
Edge-based analytics is essential. The work of Anka Labs implements the full power of the SkySpark analytics suite in small low, cost edge devices, and builds on the open data standards of Project Haystack to enable near seamless data interchange among networks of edge devices.” John Petze, Partner at SkyFoundry and Executive Director of Project Haystack.”
John Petze, Partner, SkyFoundry, Inc.“It was our pleasure, Alper! Your team is about to revolutionize the entire industry and I am happy to see history in the making!”
Jim Lee, Founder & CEO, Cimetrics Inc.AnkaStack
Purpose & Objectives
AnkaStack is a software stack designed to be used in BAS devices for edge control and gateway applications. Its unique secret sauce is the powerful integration of popular open-source stack layers with industry-leading commercial software components. AnkaStack provides the following three areas of functionality:
As a controller
Controllers form the core of digital BAS. These devices are programmed / configured to ingest sensor data and other parameters and to execute the logic necessary to control mechanical devices such as fans, heating/cooling units, lights, valves, and actuators. AnkaStack uses a logic engine based on open-source Sedona, originally created by Tridium and placed into open source in 2006.
As an analytics platform
As the BAS industry moves to make better use of operational data through analytics, AnkaStack will provide the best platform to expose data from the far reaches of BAS devices. Because AnkaStack configuration is done using tags and metadata, all data points will be analytics-ready, either using the built-in SkySpark application, as part of a cluster, or using other cloud-based analytics platforms.
An App Store platform
While AnkaStack provides flexibility as a controller and analytics platform, we anticipate that engineers will want specific functionalities to address complex needs within the device or in concert with other devices and/or cloud systems. Anka Labs plans to provide an App Store where third-party developers can deliver specific functionalities for a fee, free or as part of a service.
Value Proposition
AnkaStack is designed to run in devices within building automation systems. These devices are important for a number of stakeholders in the process of planning, designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining buildings. Our value proposition addresses the acute pain points of three of the core stakeholder groups.
Control Contractor and System Integrators
Through the intelligence inherent in AnkaStack, contractors and system integrators can enjoy lower installation labor costs that we estimate at around 50% less than current products. As a widely used platform, as AnkaStack is designed to be, firms will also benefit from an increase of educated labor force, especially the younger workforce to replace the aging professionals in the space.
Energy and Other Types of Consultants
There are a growing number of consultants who advise building owners on system design, energy use, sustainability, and building performance. Most of these consultants leverage the growing sophistication of analytic tools, their core needs being data from buildings. By designing AnkaStack as a data-centric platform, these consultants are better able to accomplish their work.
Building Owners and Managers
While the other two value propositions naturally flow to the benefit of building owners, we feel that the true value of AnkaStack to owners is flexibility to choose between vendors and the transparency of the services they will offer. Through the broad adoption of AnkaStack, vendors will be unable to use predatory lockin, relying instead on the value of their service and offers.
Enabling the Digital Twin
The Digital Twin is a key tenet of the New Deal initiative, one that is key to surfacing the value from data-centric building automation systems of tomorrow. The Digital Twin should be seen as a model of the building in the cloud, with full awareness of the structure and relationship of devices in the physical building it represents. Much like a spreadsheet, a Digital Twin allows users to view and model the building using data from the building. Uses of the Digital Twin include viewing the current status of the building, reviewing past performance or issues of the facility, as well as predicting the future behavior of the systems within the building, and thus, the building itself.
Digital Twins need data, lots of it, the more the better. One of the objectives of the creation of AnkaStack is to enable data to flow more smoothly from edge devices to the analytics system that is acting as the Digital Twin of the building. This is in contrast to the difficult task of extracting useful data from current DDC devices.
Freemium Business Model
To achieve rapid and wide adoption of AnkaDOS in the market, we are offering AnkaDOS in three broadly different editions, as follows:
Community
A Community Edition of AnkaStack will be available for free download. This edition will have all of the functionality of the commercial editions of AnkaStack, but will rely on community support and will not include any SkySpark point licenses (necessary for on-board analytics).
Commercial
Two commercial editions of AnkaStack (Professional and Enterprise) will be made available to license with different levels of support and different amounts of SkySpark point licenses. The commercial edition will also include hardened security options necessary for real-life applications.
OEM
AnkaStack for OEM is the third and main mechanism for Anka Labs to get AnkaStack into wide use in the industry. This is targeted at manufacturers who wish to upgrade their controller technology to be ready for the needs of the market demanding data-centric solutions.
Anka Labs Reseller Packages
Value Added Reseller - VAR
- Sells to end-users
- Improves implementation
- Have direct support from VAD / Anka Labs
Value Added Distributor - VAD
- Sells to VARs
- Creates new sales models and vectors
- Have direct support from Anka Labs
Anka Labs OEM Packages
Small Business Package
- $2K a month
- 35 multiplier on EAC (Edge Controller)
- 7 multiplier on EAG (Edge Gateway)
- 10 hours a month support total
- Hardware design
- Industrial design
- Software development
- Whitelabeling of Anka apps NOT included
- SLA Support 2 days via online & phone
Medium Business Package
- $8K a month – 1 Dedicated employee
- 325 multiplier from EAC (Edge Controller)
- 685 multiplier on EAG (Edge Gateway)
- 40 hours a month support total
- Hardware design
- Industrial design
- Software development
- White Labeling of Anka apps included
- SLA Support 1 day via online & phone
Enterprise Business Package
- $20K a month – 2 Dedicated employees
- 3 multiplier from EAC (Edge Controller)
- 67 multiplier on EAG (Edge Gateway)
- 160 hours a month support total
- Hardware design
- Industrial design
- Software development
- White Labeling of Anka apps is included
- SLA Support 1 hour via phone & online
Services
Anka Labs plans to offer wide-ranging services to assist its customers in the best use of AnkaStack. For Commercial edition users, we will provide project design and implementation services, while for OEM customers, we will provide any required product design and development services to bring to market the best products based on AnkaStack.
We view our role in the industry as being a laboratory to develop future-looking software and hardware solutions for companies in the industry to adapt to their core offerings.
EAC Reference Hardware
Anka Labs will offer a range of EAC devices with different IO configurations, which have been created as a reference design for the industry to use in projects, as well as to create and customize their own EACs. Beyond this, the main source of devices running AnkaStack will be device manufacturers who embed AnkaStack as their software stack for their future-looking product lines. These will come as a result of OEM arrangements. To enable people to get up and running quickly, users can also run AnkaStack on mass-market single-board computers like the BeagleBone and Raspberry Pi, available for $50 or less online.
EAC V1
Version 1 of
EAC reference design
UL certified, available for purchased from several BAS distributors. Available in multiple I/O configurations.
EAC V2
Version 2 of
EAC reference design
Currently in development
Dell IoT
Dell IoT box contains
Intel® architecture
Dell IoT box with project SandStar Currently in development Q2 2018
Competitive Advantage
Our key differentiator and competitive advantage is our expertise and deep domain knowledge of the issues we are addressing with AnkaDOS and EAC. Of the two founders, CTO Alper Üzmezler has had 18 years of active work in his company BASSG, providing discrete software solutions and services to market.
From a technology perspective, Anka Labs has an existing significant amount of IP around AnkaDOS and EAC, including a trademark on the EAC concept. Given our position and understanding of the market, we believe we have a multi-year lead in technology and market presence.
A key advantage is our freemium business model, designed to create a large ecosystem of users at little cost to us. As we evolve this business model, especially growing the Community users, we feel that it will become harder for a competitor to emerge.
The Software Stack.
The AnkaStack software stack (pictured here) is made up of the following key components:
Network Architecture
One of the objectives of AnkaStack is to simplify the network architecture in building systems. The left diagram in the image below illustrates the typical network architecture of BAS today, while on the right, we present our vision of a simplified network while fulfilling all functional requirements of BAS while delivering more value to building owners in the emerging age of analytics in buildings.
Of key importance is the replacement of the 30-year old DDC (Direct Digital Control) class devices at the bottom of the architecture, and replacing them with modern, IT-centric EAC (Edge Analytics Controllers) in their place. Also gone from the architecture are gateways and other supervisory devices, since in the AnkaDOS world, those functions are replaced by apps running in one or more of the EAC devices.
Hybrid and Retrofit Applications
While the above change is dramatic in new builds and major retrofits, most of the immediate applications for AnkaStack lie in existing buildings with some level of the control system in place. For these applications, AnkaStack is designed to perform a gateway and data collection function as can be seen in the examples in the diagram shown.
Because AnkaStack/EAC combination is designed to be a controller AND analytics appliance, it can replace controllers to mechanical devices such as AHUs (Air Handling Units). In this mode, AnkaStack performs the necessary control functions of the AHU, while connecting to lower-level devices (VAVs in this case), and provide much-needed analytics at a fraction of the cost of other analytics solution frameworks.
To the Future Age of the Fog
With the dramatic reduction in the size of computing devices, we anticipate that devices capable of running the AnkaStack stack will proliferate in the coming years. In buildings, such devices will start to connect with each other using various predominantly IP-based wired and wireless networks, creating what we now call the Fog.
AnkaStack is designed for this future in mind, with each device being able to perform controller functions, while enabling Fog and Cloud-based analytics as needed by the needs of the facility.
Economic Game Changer
While much of the benefits of AnkaStack and EAC can be gleaned in the technology architecture of AnkaStack, the most significant benefits will be in the economics of the installation and commissioning of BAS and the analytics required to ensure the building operates.
The table below represents typical installation tasks of installing and commissioning a typical BAS system to include cloud-based analytics.
DDC installation steps
Many installation tasks, conducted by multiple people using different tools. Leading to high labor costs and the risk of mistakes.
EAC installation steps
Minimal steps, performed using a browser. Leading to estimated 50% labor reduction and minimal mistakes.
About Anka Labs
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Anka Labs is a small technology company focused on bringing modern, IT-centric software to the $95B Building Automation Systems (BAS) market. Steeped in innovation, the company’s AnkaDOS stack brings metadata-based thinking to reduce the cost and effort to install and commission analytics-ready controllers in tomorrow’s buildings.
Alper Üzmezler, CTO
Leadership – The Founder
About Anka Labs
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Anka Labs is a small technology company focused on bringing modern, IT-centric software to the $95B Building Automation Systems (BAS) market. Steeped in innovation, the company’s AnkaDOS stack brings metadata-based thinking to reduce the cost and effort to install and commission analytics-ready controllers in tomorrow’s buildings.
Alper Üzmezler, CTO
Leadership – The Founder
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