provisioning IOT devices

Nordic devices are conveniently shipped with firmware directed at testing the antenna circuitry and radio frequency performance. The downside is that a modem firmware update is required for use in the field. This update takes up to 30 seconds per device. To keep the testing time to a minimum, we need to test the devices in parallel.

Modern IoT devices require secure provisioning before they can be deployed in the field. Each device needs unique credentials and must be properly registered with backend servers. The NRF9160 is a cellular modem with a built-in secure element. The secure element is used to store the device credentials. The modem is a co-processor, while the client's application code runs on the NRF9160's main processor.

The EVAjig automated the entire provisioning process. The RF-frontend testing procedure is initiated by the EVAjig after power-on. The latest stable version of the modem firmware is programmed next. This ensures a stable and secure connection to the cellular network.

Next, the imei is read and used to get credentials from the client's backend server through an API. These credentials are then programmed into the secure element. And the client's main application is programmed. The new device's status is sent to the backend server and if it is successful, the device is secured.

Our parallel testing capability allows this all to be done for processing 12 devices simultaneously, thus greatly reducing the total testing time. For this product we added a QR scanner modules to each of the cassettes, thus eliminating the need to manually scan and any errors associated with it.

The client has commenced production well over a year ago and has since ordered several cassettes for variants of this product and other products as well. Manual errors were eliminated completely. The automated system successfully tested and provisioned over 10,000 devices since the start of production.