Data Collection
Ethos gathers essential operational data using a combination of wired and wireless tools, including:
- Traditional data loggers with temperature and pressure sensors
- Network-based loggers via PLCs and control systems
- Web APIs for system-wide data aggregation
- LoRaWAN-enabled IoT devices, such as wireless temperature and door sensors
- Compact AI and DI/DO cards for real-time digital/analogue signal capture
These devices transmit data securely to a base unit connected to a NUC and 4G router, sending information directly to the cloud. This minimises on-site wiring and PLC integration costs, while enabling fast deployment across existing infrastructure.
Analysis: Digital Twin Comparison
All collected data is analysed against a cloud-based digital twin, a virtual model of optimal system performance that dynamically adjusts to environmental and operational variables. Ethos compares real-time performance to this virtual benchmark, detecting inefficiencies caused by:
- Component wear
- Suboptimal control settings
- Operational anomalies
- Planned or unplanned maintenance routines
- Equipment misalignment or energy drift
It also provides AI-driven forecasting to model a site's Short, Medium-, and Long-Term energy consumption, enabling proactive intervention before seasonal peaks or year-end energy costs spiral out of control. The result: lower energy bills, higher profit margins, and stronger environmental performance.
Dashboard Display
Insights and recommendations are delivered through a user-friendly, interactive online dashboard that includes:
- Estimated monetary, energy, and CO₂ savings
- Real-time performance alerts and visual heatmaps
- Colour-coded reports for intuitive issue identification
- Live and historical data across the full system or individual components
- Component-level energy monitoring and virtual power metering enable you to drill down into specific equipment like compressors, defrost heaters, lighting, or doors, without the cost of physical meters. Energy consumption is estimated using kW ratings and operating hours, creating detailed insights into which parts of the system consume the most power and why.
Actionable Advice
Ethos diagnoses systems’ inefficiencies, anomalies, or underperformance and recommends specific actions to fix those issues or optimise performance. The platform provides real-time, prioritised recommendations to address inefficiencies and avoid unexpected downtime. These may include:
- Adjusting setpoints and controls
- Identifying faulty or energy-intensive components
- Recommending maintenance or operational changes
- Highlighting optimisation opportunities across entire estates
This approach helps operators transition from reactive to predictive maintenance and ensures sustained system efficiency over time.
What's New?
- Wireless device integration: Rapid deployment of sensors without rewiring
- Expanded monitoring: Includes auxiliary components such as doors, lights, heaters, fans
- Virtual power metering: Estimates power usage without expensive hardware
- Multi-level energy drill-down: From estate-wide views to individual asset insights
- Remote data explorer: Cloud access to historical performance to analyse trends, build heatmaps, and troubleshoot remotely with confidence
- AI-enhanced forecasting: Anticipates consumption trends and inefficiencies before they impact the bottom line
