Operation

Overview

Thingsee BEAM operates continuously once installed, automatically measuring distance to the target surface and reporting changes. The sensor uses Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser technology to provide accurate fill-level data for dispensers, bins, shelves, and other applications.

Automatic Operation

Once powered on and connected to the Wirepas mesh network, Thingsee BEAM:

1. Measures distance every 5 minutes (default)
2. Reports changes when the distance exceeds the configured threshold
3. Sends periodic updates every hour regardless of changes
4. Manages power automatically for optimal battery life
5. Self-heals network connections after temporary disruptions

No manual intervention is required — the sensor operates autonomously.

How Thingsee BEAM Works

ToF laser technology:

1. Laser emission: Sensor emits an infrared laser pulse toward the target surface
2. Reflection: Laser bounces off the solid surface and returns to the sensor
3. Time measurement: Sensor measures the time for the laser to return (time-of-flight)
4. Distance calculation: Time is converted to distance (speed of light × time / 2)
5. Data transmission: Distance value sent via Wirepas mesh to gateway and cloud

Why ToF Laser

vs. Ultrasonic sensors:

• Higher accuracy: ToF laser ±25 mm vs. ultrasonic ±5–10 cm typical
• Smaller beam: Narrow laser cone vs. wide ultrasonic cone (better for small targets)
• Faster response: Laser speed-of-light vs. sound wave travel time

vs. Manual checking:

• Continuous monitoring: Real-time data 24/7 vs. periodic manual inspections
• Data-driven: Historical trends and usage patterns vs. subjective observation
• Labour savings: Automated alerts vs. manual inventory/refill checks

Distance Measurement

Measurement Modes

Thingsee BEAM has two distance measurement modes:

Mode can be changed remotely — contact support@haltian.com.

Interpreting Distance Values

The sensor reports the distance from the sensor to the nearest solid surface in millimetres.

Fill-level logic:

• Dispenser full → short distance (material close to sensor)
• Dispenser empty → long distance (material far from sensor)
• Bin empty → long distance (bottom of bin)
• Bin full → short distance (trash close to sensor)

Beam Width (Region of Interest)

The detection area is a cone shape, adjustable between 15° and 27°. The cone diameter increases with distance:

• At 500 mm: ~130–240 mm diameter
• At 1000 mm: ~260–480 mm diameter
• At 2000 mm: ~520–960 mm diameter

A narrower beam (15°) provides more precise measurement in confined spaces. A wider beam (27°) provides broader detection for larger targets.

Beam width is configurable via a 16×16 ROI matrix — contact support@haltian.com for adjustment.

Measurement Limitations

• Minimum distance: 40 mm — readings below this are unreliable
• Glossy surfaces: Mirror-like reflections can scatter the laser (metal, glass, polished plastic)
• Transparent surfaces: Laser may pass through (glass, clear plastic, water without accessory)
• Dark surfaces: Low reflectance reduces signal strength — dark objects may measure longer distances
• Moving targets: Constantly changing distance — use for static applications

Installation Angle Impact

• Optimal: 90° perpendicular to target surface
• Tolerance: ±6° without accuracy loss
• Avoid: Steep angles (> ±6°) cause measurement errors. Angled glossy surfaces reflect the laser away from the sensor.

Ambient Lighting Impact

• Bright sunlight: Can interfere with laser measurements (infrared wavelength overlap)
• Indoor lighting: Generally OK — office lights, LEDs, and fluorescent lights are compatible
• Recommendation: Avoid direct sunlight on the sensor or target area

Reporting Behavior

Event-Based Reporting

The sensor measures distance every 5 minutes and reports when the change exceeds the configured threshold:

Time-Based Reporting

• Hourly update: Current distance value every 60 minutes
• Battery status: Every 6 hours

Configurable Parameters

The following can be adjusted remotely via Haltian Operations Cloud:

• Measurement interval
• Reporting interval and event threshold
• Region of Interest (ROI) — beam width and direction
• Measurement mode (short range / long range)
• Mesh network node role (routing / non-routing)
• Timing budget (balance power consumption vs. measurement noise)

Contact support@haltian.com for configuration changes.

Monitoring in the Haltian Application

Viewing Measurements

Access the latest and historical distance measurements for your Thingsee BEAM sensor in the Haltian application:

1. Log into the application
2. Navigate to the device list and select your sensor
3. View the latest reported distance values and historical data

Periodic Review Checklist

Thingsee BEAM operates autonomously. No active monitoring is required — review this checklist periodically or when alerts indicate an issue.

• All sensors reporting (check “Last Seen” timestamps)
• Battery levels above 20%
• Signal strength acceptable (RSSI > -85 dBm)
• Distance readings consistent with actual fill levels
• No obstructions introduced in the beam path
• Sensor lens clean (dust or dirt affects accuracy)

Fill-Level Calculation

The sensor reports distance in millimetres. To convert to a fill-level percentage:

• Baseline (full): Distance when the container is full
• Baseline (empty): Distance when the container is empty
• Fill level %: (Empty distance − Current distance) / (Empty distance − Full distance) × 100

Example: Bin full = 100 mm, empty = 800 mm, current = 450 mm → Fill level = 50%

Data Format

Distance measurements are delivered via MQTT Stream API:

{
  "measured_at": "2026-01-20T14:30:00Z",
  "distance": 350
}

• distance: Distance from sensor to target surface (millimetres)
• measured_at: Measurement timestamp (ISO 8601)

For GraphQL queries and full payload details, see Data Output.

Integrations

• Building management systems (BMS): Integrate fill-level data for facility management
• Maintenance scheduling: Auto-create work orders when bins are full or dispensers low
• Inventory systems: Real-time stock levels from shelf monitoring
• Analytics dashboards: Visualize usage patterns, trends, and predictive maintenance

Data access:

• Haltian application (web interface, real-time and historical data)
• REST API (programmatic access for third-party integrations)
• Webhooks (push notifications on threshold events)

Battery Management

Battery Life Expectations

Factors affecting battery life:

• Measurement interval (primary factor)
• Mesh network routing load
• Signal strength (poor signal = more retransmissions)
• Battery quality

Battery Monitoring

• Battery percentage displayed in the Haltian application
• Low battery warnings at 20%
• Critical battery alerts at 10%

Battery Replacement

See Installation Guide — Battery Replacement for detailed steps.

Network Health Monitoring

Signal Strength (RSSI)

Monitor signal quality in the Haltian application:

Troubleshooting Connectivity

Sensor not reporting:

1. Check battery level
2. Verify gateway operational
3. Review signal strength (RSSI)
4. Check last seen timestamp
5. Add intermediate router if signal poor

Support

For operational assistance:

• Email: support@haltian.com
• Installation: See Installation Guide
• Specifications: See Specifications