No matter what the size of the business or the industry it plays in, it’s always been a challenging task to keep track of high value, mobile assets, such as merchandise, pallets of goods, incoming trailers, or other types of packages as they move from manufacturer to truck to ship and beyond.
It’s often a manual process, and even with the most sophisticated tracking systems, keeping the asset trackers charged and connected have added several layers of difficulty. Up until now, real-time tracking devices for mobile assets have not been broadly deployed because they all rely on batteries, which inevitably deplete over time.
Everyone at Ossia is excited to share with you that it’s not going to be so difficult anymore. The FCC just granted us an equipment authorization for wireless power delivery for our asset tracking system, the Cota® Forever Tracker™.
This is the first time that an Internet-of-Things (IoT), real-time tracking system will be able to rapidly charge multiple trackers without the need for wires, cables, charging pads, or specific placement orientation. Because the trackers will be powered simultaneously and automatically, the devices will always be charged and ready-to-go, which makes the logistics and supply chain process much more efficient.
Why hasn’t this solution existed before? A number of elements had to come together to make this happen:
- First, we had to develop the system and get it certified. The latest FCC certification enables us to market and sell this system in the U.S.
- Next, we needed enabling technologies and partners to deliver the full solution. Ossia is collaborating with T-Mobile and Xirgo Technologies to develop and market the Cota Forever Tracker.
- Finally, there needs to be deployment. Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has stepped up as an agile innovator for an initial deployment in their logistics and supply chain process later this year.
With T-Mobile’s Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) network, the Forever Tracker will be deployed in complex and geographically dispersed environments, while remaining energy efficient. Each tracker will receive about 2W of RF power.
Commercialization of the Cota Forever Tracker, which meets the FCC's stringent requirements for safety and is certified under Part 18 of the FCC’s rules, is expected in 2020.
We hope you are as excited as we are!
Learn more about Ossia’s FCC certifications.
