The U.S. Department of Defense has commissioned a 3D tracking solution that uses long range connectivity (LoRa) devices for foreign guests and fleet assets at maritime ports.
The solution will use Semtech Corp.’s LoRa devices that provide long range, low-bandwidth connectivity for Ripl’s IP over low power devices messaging system called MLMesh. The combined technology allows low power devices to talk internet protocol (IP) at long distances while tracking 3D locations without the use of GPS or cellular towers.
The DoD wanted a 3D tracking of assets in a private, IP network that supports low power sensors. The Ripl LoRa solution creates a long distance, wire-free extension of the IP WAN with an IP fabric up to 20 kilometers from node to node with a battery life of up to 10 years.
The first deployment of the 3D asset tracking system will take place in the Port of Hueneme, the only deep-water harbor between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
“After what we’ve seen demonstrated around the Port of Hueneme, I trust we’ll continue to see investment in progressive technologies like Tiny Edge computing and Ripl MLMesh,” said Alan Jaeger, director of NavalX Ventura TechBridge at the Department of Navy. “Ripl and LoRa combine to secure this new class of networked computers using IP infrastructure versus creating a second data network just for IoT.”
Ripl said it will act as the systems integrator with other technologies such as Avnet’s IoT Connect platform serving as the backend system for data storage and monitoring.
