ELEMENTAL MACHINES Element-A Wireless Battery-Powered Internet User Manual

ELEMENTAL MACHINES Element-A Wireless Battery-Powered Internet

Product Information

• Product Name: Element-A
• Model: EA2

Description:
Element-A is a wireless, battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) smart sensor that continuously collects environmental temperature, humidity, pressure, and light data. It is part of the LabOps monitoring solution offered by Elemental Machines, designed to protect critical lab areas, instruments, and other assets from risk. The device securely transmits the collected data to the Elemental Machines Insights DashboardTM, providing users with interactive real-time monitoring and meaningful alerts.

Usage Instruction

Safety Information:

Battery Pack:
Element-A is powered internally by a non-rechargeable lithium battery pack. It is important to handle the battery pack with caution to prevent any accidents. Do not install the battery pack backwards, disassemble it, charge it, or expose it to water, fire, high temperature, or rapid warming from extremely cold temperature.

Non-ionizing Radiation Exposure:
Element-A periodically sends measurements to the Gateway using a low-power 2.4GHz wireless network. The radio module inside Element-A operates at a maximum power of 4.8 dBm (3 mW), which is considered safe. However, some nations advise against using such a device within 20cm of the body without further precautionary testing.

Protecting the Environment:
When disposing of Element-A, including when the battery pack has reached exhaustion, it should be returned to Elemental Machines or their agent. Element-A is marked with the international ‘wheeled bin’ symbol, indicating that it is Electrical or Electronic Equipment that should not be added to unsorted municipal waste.

Installation Guide

Prior to Receiving Element-A:
If this is your first time setting up the Elemental Machines system, you will receive an email for your dashboard account verification. Save this email for when the devices arrive. When the devices are shipped, they will be added to your Elemental Machines Insights DashboardTM with default names. When you first log in, you will see all of your devices with a ‘disconnected’ status.

Setup Positioning Element-A:
Choose an appropriate location to install Element-A. Ensure it is within the range of the Gateway and has a stable wireless connection.

Installing Element-A:

1. Remove Element-A from its packaging.
2. Open the battery compartment using the provided tools.
3. Insert the non-rechargeable lithium battery pack into the compartment, ensuring the correct orientation.
4. Close the battery compartment securely.
5. Place Element-A in the desired location.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact help@elementalmachines.com or reach out to your account representative.

Introduction

This manual provides instructions on safety and installation of Element-A, including information regarding security, specifica-tions and certifications. Element-A is a wireless, battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) smart sensor that continuously collects environmental tempera-ture, humidity, pressure, and light data. Element-A device is one product within our LabOps monitoring solution helping protect your critical lab areas, instruments, and other assets from risk. After measuring environmental data, the device securely transmits this data to the Elemental Machines Insights Dashboard™ offering users interactive real-time monitoring transforming the data into insights with meaningful alerts via state-of-the-art data science.

Safety Information

Battery Pack

WARNING:
Element-A is powered internally by a non-re-chargeable lithium battery pack. This battery can explode or leak and cause burns if installed backwards, disassembled, charged, or exposed to water, fire, high temperature or rapid warming from extremely cold temperature. For this reason it is important that the box of Element-A does not exceed its operating limits in temperature of -10 to 45 °C and in humidity of 0 to 95%RH (non-condensing).

Protecting the Environment
Element-A’s are designed with consideration for the environment and comply with relevant regulations such as the EU’s and UK’s RoHS regulations and Batteries Directives, as well as the USA’s EPA initiative to ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’. Element-A’s are provided to customers to support the service Elemental Machines provides, but they remain the property of Elemental Machines and should be returned to Elemental Machines at the end of their life for reuse, recycling or disposal as appropriate. Elemental Machines relies on customers to play their role in the process of disposing of Element-A’s correctly, to help Elemental Machines in protecting the environment.

Non-ionizing Radiation exposure
Element-A periodically sends measurements to the Gateway using a low-power 2.4GHz wireless network. When transmitting, the radio module inside Element-A works at a maximum power of 4.8 dBm (3 mW). This level is not recognized as hazardous but several nations (e.g. Canada, Australia) advise not to use such a device within 20cm of your body i.e. as a personal electronic device without further precautionary testing.

The correct disposal, which includes when the Battery pack has reached exhaustion, is to return Element-A to Elemental Machines, or their agent, where:

• Lithium battery packs that have reached the end of their life can be removed from Element-A for disposal according to local regulations (EU and UK Non-hazardous Waste code: 16 06 05).
• Element-A can have a new battery pack installed or, if it has reached the end of life, will have the battery pack removed for disposal as above and then treated as Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) (EU and UK Non-hazardous Waste code 16 02 16).

Element-A is marked with the international ‘wheeled bin’ symbol, to identify it as Electrical or Electronic Equipment that the EU and UK require not to be added to unsorted municipal waste when it has reached the end of its life.

Installation Guide

Below are the instructions for installing Element-A. If you have any questions please contact help@elementalmachines.com or your account representative.

Prior to Receiving Element-A

• If this is your first time setting up the Elemental Machines system, you will receive an email for your dashboard account verification. Save this email for when the devices arrive.
• When devices are shipped they will be added to your Elemental Machines Insights Dashboard™ with default names. When you first log in you will see all of your devices with a ‘disconnected’ status.

Positioning Element-A
Element-A needs to be within range of an Elemental Gateway. The range is usually up to 30 meters, but can depend on the layout and concentration of equipment in your lab. Signal strength for an individual Element can be acquired via the Elemental Machines Insights Dashboard™. Navigate to the device in question and the signal icon will have 1-4 bars of strength. More bars indicate a better signal using a low power 2.4GHz wireless communication protocol. The connection should be sufficient as long as there are at least 2 bars.

Installing Element-A
Elements should be installed as close to the front of the equip-ment as practical to ensure optimal communication with a Gateway.

Be sure to read and comply with the safety information at the beginning of this manual concerning operating conditions.

1. Securely position Element-A in the chosen location (a central location in the environment you want to monitor or adjacent to any process or equipment you want to track). Element-A has magnets which enable mounting to magnetic surfaces.
   • For best results, ensure air can flow freely around Element-A.
   • Do not place Element-A in condensing humidity environments. Do not submerge. Avoid placing directly under HVAC vents. Refer to Specifications sections for more details on Element-A operating ranges.
2. Write the name/location of the equipment being monitored on Element-A as needed. This can be particularly helpful if multiple devices are being installed. Use of a Sharpie is recommended.
3. Verify that Element-A is displaying as “connected” on the Elemental Insights Dashboard™.
4. Edit the device description in the Dashboard to include name and location of the device and provide details on the equip-ment or area being monitored. To edit, in the “Machines” Section select the Element-A to show the detail view. Under “Machine Details” click on the pencil icon to edit the name, tags, and additional information.

Further assistance to complete dashboard setup is available in the Support section.

Gateway Setup
Element-A communicates wirelessly to an Elemental Gateway, which should be set up prior to connecting Element-A. Depending on your location and application, your Gateway type may vary. If you have a tablet Gateway, brief setup instructions are given in the appendix below. If you have a Gateway Model GW2 or GW3, please follow the setup instructions in your Gateway, GW2 or GW3 User Manual.

Element-A Specifications

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Model Number EA2
• Dimensions 2.5 in x 2.5 in x 0.8 in (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm x 2.0 cm)
• Operating Temperature Range -10ºC – 45ºC
• Operating Humidity Range 0-95% RH, Non-condensing
• Operating Pressure Range 300 hPa – 1100 hPa
• Battery ~3.5 years at default sample rate of 15 seconds

INTERNAL SENSOR SPECIFICATIONS

• Temperature Range -10ºC – 45ºC
• Temperature Accuracy* Typical ±0.2ºC, Max ±0.5ºC, Drift: <0.03 ºC/yr
• Humidity Range 0 – 95% RH, Non-condensing
• Humidity Accuracy*
  • 0% to 80% RH Typical ±2.0% RH, Max ±3.0%
  • 80% to 95% RH Typical ±3.0% RH, Max ±5.0%
  • Drift: typical <0.25%/yr max of <0.5%/yr**
• Pressure Range 300 hPa – 1100 hPa
• Pressure Accuracy*
  • Repeatability: ±1.0 hPa from 0ºC to 60ºC, ±1.7 hPa from -10ºC to 0ºC
  • Reproducibility†: ±2.5 hPa
• Light Spectrum Visible light (~400nm – 700nm)
• NIST-traceable calibration certificate from independent ISO 17025 service Optional

COMMUNICATION

• Data Sampling and Transmission Rate 15 Seconds
• Range up to 30 Meters, depending on environmental conditions
• Frequency band (power) 2.4 GHz (4.8 dBm ≡ 3mW)

1. Temperature, pressure, and humidity are factory calibrated to a NIST traceable standard
2. Extended exposure to high humidity and high temperature may cause an accrued RH offset
3. Pressure accuracy may be affected by solvents, pollutants and extremes of humidity. Reproducibility accuracy reflects changes in small to moderate levels of these.

Compliance

• Contains FCC ID TFB-1005, FCC Part 15.247
• Contains IC ID 5969A-1005, RSS 247

CE

• 2011/65/EU and amendment 2015/863 (RoHS)
• 2006/66/EC and amendment 2013/56/EU (Batteries Directive)
• 2012/19/EU (WEEE)
• 2014/53/EU (RED)
• Safety under 2014/35/EU (LVD)
• And essential EMC reqs under 2014/30/EU

UKCA

• Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3032)
• The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2164)
• The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3113)
• The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (S.I.2017/1206)
• The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1101)
• The Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1091)

Test Standards

• EN 63000
• EN 50419, EN 63000
• EN 50419
• ETSI EN 300 328
• EN61010-1, EN 62311
• ETSI EN 301 489-1, EN 61326-1, EN 61000-4-2, EN 61000-4-3, EN 55011

Certifications

United States FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARNING:
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Elemental Machines, Inc. could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Canada IC:
This equipment complies with Canada radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.

This device complies with Industry Canada licence exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Declarations of Conformity

EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

1. Radio equipment: Element-A, EA2

2. Name and address of the manufacturer or his authorised representative:

   • Elemental Machines
   • 185 Alewife Brook Parkway, Suite 401 Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

3. This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.

4. Object of the declaration:

5. The object of the declaration described above is in conformity with the relevant European Union harmonisation legislation:
   Directive 2014/53/EU (RED), including:

   • essential EMC requirements under Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC)
   • safety under 2014/35/EU (LVD)
   • Directive 2011/65/EU and amendment 2015/863 (RoHS)
   • Directive 2006/66/EC and amendment 2013/56/EU (Batteries Directive)
   • Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE)

6. Relevant harmonised standards used:

   • EN 50419:2006
   • EN 55011:2016+A1:2017
   • EN 61000-4-2:2009
   • EN 61000-4-3:2006+A2:2010
   • EN 61010-1:2010+A1:2019
   • EN 61326-1:2013
   • EN 62311:2008
   • EN 63000:2018
   • ETSI EG 203 367 V1.1.1 (2016-06)
   • ETSI EN 300 328 V2.2.2 (2019-07)
   • ETSI EN 301 489-1 V1.9.2 (2011-09)

Signed for and on behalf of: Elemental Machines 2023 Jan 11

(signature):

Sridhar lyengar, CEO,

UK DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

1. Radio equipment: Element-A, EA

2. Name and address of the manufacturer or his authorised representative:
   Elemental Machines
   185 Alewife Brook Parkway, Suite 401 Cambridge, MA 02138 USA.

3. This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.

4. Object of the declaration:

5. The object of the declaration described above is in conformity with the relevant statutory requirements:
   Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1206), including:

   • EMC under Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1091)
   • safety under Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1101)
   • Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3032)
   • The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2164)
   • The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3113)

6. Relevant designated standards used:

   • EN 50419:2006
   • EN 55011:2016+A1:2017
   • EN 61000-4-2:2009
   • EN 61000-4-3:2006+A2:2010
   • EN 61010-1:2010+A1:2019
   • EN 61326-1:2013
   • EN 62311:2008
   • EN 63000:2018
   • ETSI EG 203 367 V1.1.1 (2016-06)
   • ETSI EN 300 328 V2.2.2 (2019-07)
   • ETSI EN 301 489-1 V1.9.2 (2011-09)

Signed for and on behalf of: Elemental Machines 2023 Feb 23

Sridhar lyengar, CEO,

Gateway Setup

Elemental Machines provides multiple styles of Gateways. If you have a Tablet Gateway (Model GW1), please follow the setup instructions below. For Gateway-2, please follow the setup instructions in 771-00021 Gateway (Model GW2) User Manual. For Gateway-3, please follow the setup instructions in 771-00034 Gateway (Model GW3) User Manual.

Tablet Gateway (Model GW1) Software Setup
To power on the Gateway, press and hold the upper right-hand button on the device,

• Wait for the main screen to come up
• Press the ‘home’ button when you see the Elemental Machines Logo
  • Click on the blue circle in the upper right corner (if the circle is not visible, press the hardware home button on the bottom of the tablet to make it appear, or swipe up if you do not have a hardware button)
  • Click on the settings icon
  • Select WiFi from the list

Positioning the Tablet Gateway
Tablet Gateways collect data from the Elements, collating it and transmitting it across the internet to Elemental Machines’ Cloud. The tablet Gateways’ default is to transmit by Wi-Fi; for added reliability they fall back to Cellular connection when Wi-Fi connec-tion drops out. There is a danger of data delay or even loss if all connection is lost, so tablet Gateways should be positioned where they are getting good Wi-Fi and Cellular connection.

The strength of the Wi-Fi and Cellular connection are displayed by the Wi-Fi icon using Cellular bar icons. These icons are displayed on the tablet Gateway to the left of the battery percentage.

• 4 or more bars for both Wi-Fi and cell indicate good connectivity
• 2 bars for both Wi-Fi and cell runs an increased risk of some data delay or loss
• <2 bars for cell or Wi-Fi carry a danger of significant data delay or loss

Platform Network Summary

Elemental Machines’ platform delivers actionable intel to operators that will help improve operations and speed discovery. Elemental Machines devices are designed to operate securely on our customers’ networks. The entire platform includes:

• Devices called Elements that monitor critical equipment and/or the ambient environment
• Elemental Gateway that gathers data from the non-cloud connected Elements
• Elemental Insights dashboard

The full scope of Elemental Machines’ Data Services is shown below:

Local Communication

Wireless sensors (Element-T, Element-A, Element-U Model EU2, and Element-B) communicate individually to a local Elemental Gateway (either an Elemental Tablet Gateway, Elemental Gateway models GW2 or GW3) via a low-powered 2.4 GHz wireless communi-cation protocol. These devices do not connect to the corporate network. Each Elemental Gateway will only process data from Elements that are on a pre-defined list that is unique to each installation. This list is created prior to shipping the Gateway and is updated whenever new Elements are added to the network.

Element-C, Element-D, and Element-U model EU1 devices do not require an Elemental Gateway and transmit data directly from a piece of equipment to the Elemental Insights dashboard via customer Wi-Fi or ethernet.

Communication through Customer Ethernet or Wi-Fi

Elemental Gateway Models GW2/GW3 and Element-C, Element-D, and Element-U Model EU1 will always connect to Ethernet first, if available. If there is no Ethernet then the device will connect to Wi-Fi. The system uses HTTPS to protect data transmitted between Elemental Gateways, Element-C, Element-D, and Element-U Model EU1 devices and necessary API and data ingest endpoints, such as Elemental Insights. HTTPS is the established communication and security standard for protecting sensitive data transmitted across the web, with applications that include usernames, passwords, credit card, and banking information. Elemental Machines devices use socket connections through port 80, 123, and 443 of a customer’s firewall, opening only outbound connections.

Elemental Tablet Gateway requires the following outbound TCP/UDP connections to be open in a customer’s firewall for the system to work:

http://play.google.com android.clients.google.com android.googleapis.com| 443| TCP| provisioning
time.elementalmachines.io| 123| UDP| time synchronization
*.pubnub.com

*.pubnub.net

*.pndsn.com

| 443| TCP| secure IoT device messaging
*.papertrailapp.com| 443| TCP| log management

Elemental Gateway Models GW2 and GW3 require the following outbound TCP/UDP connections to be open:

*.docker.com

*.docker.io

| 443| TCP| for verified operating system images
*.pubnub.com

*.pubnub.net

*.pndsn.com

| 443| TCP| secure IoT device messaging
8.8.8.8|  |  | Google’s Public DNS server (Balena default, can be reconfigured)

For All Devices, no inbound ports need to be opened. Security vulnerability using the above configuration is prevented as follows:

• Internet communication over Port 80, 123, and 443
• Device must be able to transmit outward to the Internet on 443
• Clients do not open inbound ports
• There is no need to open the firewall to receive on port 80, 123, or 443
• There is no way for outside users to get into the user’s network
• No ports are listened to by Elemental Machines, that is the case even if the user opened ports 80 or 443 for receipt

Elemental Insights Dashboard
Communication between the Dashboard and web browsers always uses HTTPS. User access to the Dashboard is restricted to invite-only, requires hardened passwords, and can be revoked by admins at any time. Users are further restricted in what they can access or edit by role-based account policies.

Supplemental Security Information

Elemental Tablet Gateway is based on Android technology and therefore enjoy the security benefits of the Android Development Network and Google. Security benefits, as listed in a security whitepaper from Google about Android, are as follows:

• Strives to prevent security issues from occurring through design reviews, penetration testing, and code audits
• Performs security reviews prior to releasing new versions of Android and Google Play
• Publishes the source code for Android, thus allowing the broader community to uncover flaws and contribute to making Android the most secure mobile platform
• Works hard to minimize the impact of security issues with features like the application sandbox Detects vulnerabilities and security issues by regularly scanning Google Play applications for malware, and removing them from devices if there’s a potential for serious harm to the user devices or data
• Has a rapid response program in place to handle vulnerabilities found in Android by working with hardware and carrier partners to quickly resolve security issues and push security patches

Elemental Gateway Models GW2, GW3 as well as Element-C, Element-D, and Element-U Model EU1 devices are based on the balenaOS, a thin Linux environment that supports the balenaCloud services and user application containers. Balena offers security by design:

• API access control
• Multiple authentication methods
• Minimized available attack surfaces
• Balena operates its own Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) on Amazon Web Services (AWS) This isolation gives Balena an added layer of security

Elemental Machines Cloud Services
Elemental Machines’ data ingestion and server infrastructure are hosted on Google Cloud Platform, which provides a managed security layer for Google services (PubSub, BigQuery, etc.) and are automatically updated by Google. Other components such as Ruby-on-Rails, Influx, and Postgres databases are maintained to at least the minimum supported version and are updated for any high/critical security vulnerabilities per vendor guidance.

Elemental Machines Network Information
Wireless Requirements:

• SSID: Not hidden is preferred
• Security: WEP, WPA, or WPA2
• IP Assignment: Dynamic is preferred
• Number of Unique Devices: Sum of the Gateways and Element-C, Element-D, and Element-U1 devices
• Captive Portal: Not Supported

Local Wireless Network Information:

• SSID:
• Password:

© 2023 Elemental Machines – 771-00008 rev 04 Element-A, EA2 User Manual. elementalmachines.com.

References

• Elemental Machines - API
• balena dashboard
• Docker: Accelerated Container Application Development
• Docker: Accelerated Container Application Development
• Elemental Machines - Home
• Elemental Machines - Home
• Papertrail - cloud-hosted log management, live in seconds
• pndsn.com
• Build, manage, & optimize real-time apps at scale | PubNub
• registry2.balena-cloud.com
• Cloud Object Storage - Amazon S3 - AWS

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