Courtesy: STMicroelectronics
It’s becoming outrageously expensive not to track assets and monitor people’s safety, especially when a device like the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag, from the company GPS-Buddy, can provide so much more information than just a location on a map. Equipped with an LIS2DUX12 accelerometer from ST, it can track much more data than geographical location, such as the operation of a motor, a person’s activities, and more, thanks to an implementation that leverages our sensors and our MEMS-Studio software.
It thus opens up the GPS-Buddy RFID Tag to numerous use cases and helps future-proof its design. The tracker can even collect and label training data to build new machine learning algorithms and leverage innovative AI capabilities. Put simply, GPS-Buddy is asset tracking for those who need to track much more than just assets.
GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag and the LIS2DUX12 solving the optimization problem
Why GPS asset trackers are not always popular
Too often, companies use assets that are hard to track. Many tools don’t use a battery or power, and even those that do may not have the space to accommodate a large tracker, or could route that power to a wireless radio. Additionally, some with motors or generating strong vibrations can disrupt regular trackers. The idea of asset tracking is far from new. Even tracking assets using a GPS is not an original idea, and avid readers of the ST Blog will remember that we featured an ST solution featuring TomTom in 2018. Yet, many companies don’t opt for a GPS tracker because they tend to be large, costly, and power hungry.
How a small sensor can have enormous consequences
To overcome many of these challenges and make GPS asset tracking more ubiquitous, the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag settled, in part, on the LIS2DUX12. Thanks to its high-g 10,000g shock survivability, it can withstand the most rugged environments. Additionally, its small package (2 mm x 2 mm) and low power consumption (between 3 µA in ultra-low power mode and 9.3 µA in high-frequency/high-performance mode), mean that the tracker is small enough to fit on a wide range of tools, while its small battery can last for years in the field. Moreover, GPS-Buddy also offers a web-based dashboard, allowing companies to utilize their existing cloud infrastructure, thereby further reducing development and operating costs.
GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag and the LIS2DUX12 convincing skeptics
Why GPS asset trackers are not always practical
Another problem is that companies still struggle to find a practical application for asset tracking within their operations. In many instances, a smaller operation will simply absorb asset losses rather than invest in trackers. The problem is that the costs of misplacing assets are more consequential than many initially think. Indeed, while most focus only on replacement costs, there are other issues, such as rising insurance premiums, increased liabilities when the lost items are used nefariously, and damage to a brand’s reputation, to name a few. However, until more companies derive greater value from asset tracking, the technology will struggle to achieve meaningful adoption.
How a smart sensor can expand the meaning of “tracking”
To help companies realize the benefits of asset tracking, the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag does more than just asset tracking, thanks to the LIS2DUX12. For instance, besides sensing motion and vibration, the sensor’s Qvar feature, which connects two electrodes to measure quasi-electrostatic potential variations, can detect when a motor is on and an appliance is in use, rather than sitting idle. Specifically, it means that companies can now track the location of their assets and determine whether they are being utilized or not. It can help companies better monitor activities and optimize workflows to ensure more positive working conditions and vastly more optimal operations.
Moreover, GPS-Buddy utilizes software tools like the ST MEMS Studio to process data and develop machine learning applications. Specifically, the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag features four buttons: Drive (DR), Work (WK), Private (PR), and Pause (PA). By pushing one of these, the tag logs sensor data and uses those modes as labels. It thus becomes possible to train a model to better distinguish between driving and a work activity, for instance, and add to the list of what the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag can monitor. Furthermore, this is possible without hiring data scientists or spending tens of thousands of dollars on training data, since the tag itself is responsible for data collection and labeling.
How does the tracker work with people?
The GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag is so versatile that the company is even using it for entirely new applications like fall detection. Indeed, thanks to the ST sensors and our machine learning capability, the Tag tracks more than assets but also people’s safety. Concretely, if a person wearing the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag falls and stays immobile for an extended period, the device triggers an alarm and sends an emergency notification to supervisors. Called the “Man Down” alarm, it can make a tremendous difference in alerting medical personnel and save valuable time, thus helping ensure the well-being of the entire crew.
A new era in asset tracking
GPS-Buddy shared how their collaboration with ST is shaping their product. For example, a device like the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag requires significant optimization to fit all algorithms inside a small device that can last for years in the field. Yet, by starting with an implementation of ST’s sensor models, they can accelerate development and shorten their time to market. Our work together also leads to the implementation of new features. For instance, we are working together on a solution that can detect elevation to turn off the radio when a plane is taking off, thus saving battery life when an asset is airborne.
For end users, the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag is a way to help companies function like a tech company without being a tech company. Indeed, a landscaping business, for instance, can now benefit from a data-driven approach and optimize its operations using AI, just like a tech company would, without having to hire an army of data scientists and developers. Put simply, the GPS-Buddy RFID-Tag is emblematic of a new era that is redefining what tracking assets and people mean and how it impacts operations.
