Omni-ID adds three devices to sense range and platform for IoT data visualisation

By OEM Update Editorial January 28, 2021 2:00 pm

Omni-ID, the pioneer of passive industrial radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, trusted by major global organizations for monitoring the location and identity of assets, has extended its Sense range of IoT devices with the launch of three new devices incorporating Quuppa’s highly accurate location technology.

In addition, Omni-ID has launched its ‘OmniSphere’ middleware IoT platform, which simplifies data collection, storage, visualization and interpretation by delivering Sense device data seamlessly to existing corporate systems, or customer applications. OmniSphere provides a range of dashboards, to display various sensor data, including motion alarms, range measurement, push button alerts, temperature, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinates and devices’ current and previous positions, which can be viewed on a configurable map. The rules engine within OmniSphere enables alerts to be generated based on sensor data, for example, sending an email when a device enters or leaves a geofence, or notifying when a device’s temperature goes above or below a pre-configured threshold. The new middleware platform also enables rapid technology evaluation and proof-of-concept applications that involve Omni-ID Sense devices.

Following a deepening of the collaboration between Omni-ID and Finnish real-time location specialist, Quuppa, Omni-ID has also developed a new Sense device that employs Quuppa. The Sense Shield is a highly accurate wearable device that tracks and records the movements of the user and can be configured to sound an alarm whenever it is located 2m or less from another device. The Sense Shield has a range of public health applications including infection control in care homes, schools, offices, public transport and sports venues. The addition of Quuppa compatibility makes Sense Shield one of the most accurate devices on the market, which will soon have added compatibility with Bluetooth low energy (BLE). Commenting on the new Sense Shield device, Dr Tony Kington, CEO of Omni-ID said, “We foresee some really exciting applications of our Sense devices within healthcare and cold chain condition monitoring. We’re particularly proud that our addition of Quuppa compatibility has enabled the rapid development of devices that can be applied in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sense Shield has potential applications in healthcare settings, cruise ships, sports venues and wherever an organization needs to help people to maintain social distancing. Quuppa’s location accuracy is second to none, so our latest Sense products offer the same high performance in terms of communication distance, ruggedness, battery life, and accuracy.” The existing Sense BLE asset-tracking device now has a version enabled with Quuppa. The third addition to the Sense range is a simpler version of the Sense Shield, which provides the same Quuppa-enabled location accuracy for tracking assets, without the audible alarm.

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The three new Quuppa-enabled devices are the latest additions to the Sense LoRa product range launched in January 2020, which can transmit signals up to 15km in flat, open space, or 3-4km in an urban setting. All of the Sense devices have a compact battery that lasts up to 5 years within harsh and remote operating environments: reducing the cost and time required to replace devices in the field. When using the GPS and accelerometer features, Sense LoRa devices will give positional accuracy of 3-5m upon movement.   Sense BLE products offer a communication distance of up to 200m and can link to WiFi, LAN or cellular networks, and to a cloud, or locally-hosted client application server.

The new range of IoT devices has generated huge interest within Omni-ID’s global client base for logistics, distribution and asset management applications within the cold chain condition monitoring, facilities management, field operations, automotive manufacture, oil & gas, mining, ports construction, emergency detection, worker safety and accountability, and fleet monitoring. “The introduction of our BLE and LoRaWAN devices last year was a game-changer and I’ve been delighted with how well our new Sense range has been received by customers and partners,” says Dr Tony Kington. “The addition of the OmniSphere middleware, and three new devices with Quuppa compatibility, provides our customers with the ability to rapidly review data from proof-of-concept applications, so that they can swiftly test and implement devices wherever precise location tracking is required.”