Highlights:

• Leading edge solutions built around Globalstar IoT satellite technology are helping conservationists in Africa to monitor and protect near-extinct rhinoceros from poachers
• Low-cost ST100 chipset is at the heart of wildlife tracking platform provided by specialist Globalstar Value Added Reseller Wintec Solutions
• Satellite technology means tracking of free-roaming animals is ubiquitous and transmissions uninterrupted, even when beyond GSM mobile networks’ reach

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., the next-generation international telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, announced today that its IoT (internet of things) satellite technology is being used to protect multiple endangered species of wildlife in Africa.

Leading-edge satellite-enabled tracking devices incorporating Globalstar’s small and lightweight ST100 chipset are being used to monitor rhinoceros, part of a widespread concerted effort to protect these nearly-extinct wild animals from illegal poachers.

This is the most recent project carried out by Globalstar Value Added Reseller, Johannesburg-based Wintec Solutions, a specialist technology and solutions provider with extensive experience in animal tracking for wildlife conservation.

Rhinoceros are the subject of widespread illegal killing by poachers across Africa. Wintec Solutions deployed GSatSolar, the latest addition to Globalstar’s IoT satellite tracking solutions portfolio. GSatSolar is an innovative Sun-powered tracking device built around Globalstar’s economical ST100 satellite IoT transmitter. Low-cost and simple to integrate, GSatSolar is a small and rugged satellite IoT tracker ideal for wildlife monitoring. Rhinos are fitted with the device via ear tagging or collar. Other novel ways of deploying the devices are also being explored. The device is also suitable for livestock tracking.

Nature reserves in Africa are expansive, spanning as many as 20,000 hectares in remote bush regions. Their perimeter fencing is often breached by criminals and poachers attempting to gain access to, and kill, the animals within. Such reserves, which are home to as many as 200 free-ranging rhinos, typically are established in locations where GSM mobile signal does not exist. Only satellite communications can provide the always-on connectivity to enable uninterrupted monitoring of the animals.

Significant advantages of GSatSolar are its small size and light weight, so as not to irritate the animal, as well as its robust structure. Furthermore, its low cost makes the solution easily scalable for tracking large herds of wildlife and farm stock. “Its physical attributes make GSatSolar a game changer, and transform the possibilities for wildlife conservation and livestock management,” says Rene Winter, Director of Wintec Solutions.

Globalstar-enabled solutions are at the forefront of today’s conservation activities in Africa; Wintec Solutions is additionally playing a role in the preservation of other African species. Researchers at Giraffe Conservation Foundation are using the system to monitor giraffe migration, and for keeping safeguarding tabs on animals which have been reintroduced into the wild. “We are currently trialling GSatSolar ear tags on giraffe in Namibia. The first units were deployed in June this year and, while field trials are still ongoing, the data received so far are very promising. We’re looking forward to deploying more units in the future and testing them in different countries,” said Dr Courtney Marneweck, Science Data Coordinator at Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

Wintec Solutions is also deploying satellite technology and Globalstar-enabled animal tags in collaboration with veterinary authorities and research students for wild buffalo protection activities in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Buffalo migration is being monitored so conservationists and government authorities can understand and mitigate the potential spread of Bovine Tuberculosis. In another project, the application of Globalstar-enabled trackers is being tested on pangolins, yet another severely endangered species.

The tracking platform UI developed Wintec Solutions includes an informative mapping portal that tracks the animals’ individual and group movements. Monitoring the rhino, or other wildlife, also informs as to grazing habits, locations of the best nutrition, seasonal breeding habits, as well as the animals’ general health and well-being.

Winter said:

“Our wildlife preservation activities take place well beyond the reach of GSM mobile; Globalstar’s satellite network, with its ubiquitous reach and reliability, is a fundamental enabler in the operations being carried out to protect endangered species.”

“Globalstar created the ST100 transmitter to meet the widespread need for easy-to-integrate, low-cost and lightweight monitoring devices that leverage satellite technology and the Internet of Things,” commented Mark O’Connell, General Manager at Globalstar EMEA & APAC. “We are absolutely delighted that solutions developed through the inventiveness and commitment of our partner Wintec Solutions are now playing such a pivotal role in the vital wildlife conservation activities today taking place across Africa,” he added.

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Low-cost, solar-powered satellite tracker designed for remote IoT operations and off-grid tracking of assets.

Globalstar, Inc., the next-generation international telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, today announced that it has added GSatSolar to its portfolio of industrial IoT asset tracking solutions.

Offered in partnership with Global Satellite Engineering (GSE), the small, rugged, low-cost tracking device enables VARs and customers to maximize the value of their tracking software tools by increasing the number of trackable assets in near-real time.

Ideal for remote IoT operations, the satellite powered device allows for a greater number of trackable assets, providing more reliable usable data in the field, improving efficiency, and allowing for true remote IoT autonomous data collection.

“GSatSolar is a low-cost option to monitor assets remotely on the Globalstar LEO network and delivers a plethora of verified IoT data across IoT applications,” said Jake Rembert, vice president of sales at Globalstar.

“The GSatSolar is a versatile solution that expands our satellite tracking capabilities. As with all our IoT asset tracking solutions, it features low power, long life and is equipped to perform.”

GSatSolar is highly durable, heat and cold resistant, and minimally invasive regarding antenna performance. Its compact size makes it viable with several flexible mounting options to fit the needs across various enterprise industrial applications. With its solar panel and internal battery, a standard unit reports for years assuming an environment with regular sun exposure.

Data collection capabilities include location, accelerometer, and Bluetooth sensor options, with the option of having data forwarded either to Globalstar’s SPOT My Globalstar data management and mapping platform — with features such as live and historical tracking on demand, alerts, geofences and shared views—or directly to a VAR’s back office or customer endpoint.

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Globalstar, Inc. today announced a commercial agreement with Wiagro, an Agtech start-up from Argentina.

Globalstar is supplying Wiagro with 2,500 ST100 satellite modem transmitters for their Smart Silobag®, which allows for the remote monitoring of grain conditions stored in silo bags. The partnership is effective immediately with completion of deployment anticipated through the end of 2024.

The Smart Silobag is utilized during the post-harvest process to increase efficiency during storage and transport. The IoT solution developed by Wiagro can collect information on the temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and detects rips caused by animals or acts of vandalism, in addition to real-time geolocation. The Globalstar ST100 satellite modem was selected due to its reduced size, low consumption, reliable service, and affordable price.

Juan Porras, Globalstar Latin America General Manager, stated, “Agriculture is quickly adopting IoT technology in Latin America and Globalstar is well equipped to provide developer solutions that enable reliable satellite connectivity for tracking and monitoring. We have already established a presence in Brazil, and we are now expanding into Argentina with our partner, Wiagro.”

Ariel Ismirlian, founding partner of Wiagro, said:

“Through the implementation of satellite technology, we’ve delivered optimization of field operations through the real-time monitoring of crops. Our innovation has supported producers, collectors, and transporters in reducing the margin of error by providing precise visibility on the status of each batch. Through increased visibility, we can guarantee our customers that the quality and quantity of the harvest is not compromised during the process.”

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In 2021, the world was on the receiving end of 432 natural disasters that affected more than 100 million people and caused over $250 billion in economic losses. But when the floods recede, the fires go out and storms blow away, what do we tend to do? Rebuild. Tell ourselves a thousand-year-storm won’t come again – even though there are five times more disasters in an average year today than there were 50 years ago, as climate change increasingly dominates our weather.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

There has to be a better way – and IoT technology is helping deliver it. To monitor the potential of forests to burn, one tech company integrates a satellite data module into weather stations positioned through the forest lands its customers manage. The stations collect near-real-time data on drought stress, snowpack change and fire danger without costly site visits, and the data is transmitted across a low-Earth orbit satellite network into a cloud-based management platform.

When fires do break out, knowing the location of firefighting vehicles and crews is critical. Solar-powered satellite asset trackers, feeding GPS coordinates to digital mapping systems, let fire managers in the US Forest Service make the most efficient use of every vehicle in their fleet. Wildfires are highly unpredictable and only precise information on crew location can keep firefighters safe.

Emergency managers spend their time imagining the worst that can happen and trying to prepare for it. Satellite IoT is making the job easier by the year.

Keeping It Simple

When the disaster arrives, it is often too late for technology to make a difference. That puts a premium on preparedness: equipping people and vehicles with asset trackers and worst-case communication devices. Disasters also have a way of wiping out the ground-based communications on which we usually depend, from wireline data and voice to mobile service. Satellite-based systems need to be part of every disaster preparedness plan – and they need to be extremely easy to use. First responders can’t train on all the technology they need to use and have no time to figure it out in the midst of emergency response.

GPS Messengers are simple devices with a dual purpose: to report where the user is and to let users send messages to check in, report conditions or signal for help using a basic keypad. Weyerhauser, Canada’s largest forest products company, uses satellite devices to connect with remote work crews. The technology gives workers a reliable, secure way to connect to help when they need it, without keeping a fleet of helicopters in the air checking on their situation.

Matching Supply and Demand

Responding to disasters is as much a matter of logistics as compassion. When disasters force people from their homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency supplies trailers as temporary housing. But there are only so many trailers to go around, and a trailer in the wrong place is as good as worthless. To match demand and supply, FEMA maps data generated by asset trackers on each trailer, so that its limited supply can stretch as far as possible.

Asset trackers like these can do much more. When agencies deploy trucks to ferry responders and deliver supplies, IoT goes with them. Onboard sensors automatically monitor runtime of engines, oil pressure, fuel levels, start-and-stop motion and position, and trackers/transmitters aggregate the data and transmit it securely to management systems. This data not only helps protect drivers, it allows maintenance to be scheduled before breakdowns occur in the field.

Understanding the Cause

Satellite asset trackers also play a role in researching the climate change that drives the steady increase in natural disaster. A major university studied the speed and elevation changes of a glacier in southeast Alaska. Glaciers can suddenly change speed due to meltwater or sediment accumulating at the base as the climate warms. During these short-lived surges, glaciers can move at many times their normal rate. To accurately track the phenomenon, the university team mounted satellite trackers on poles driven into the glacier next to scientific instruments. The trackers transmitted precise GPS coordinates to the team, which made equipment maintenance in the harsh weather safer and more efficient, because the location data allowed researchers to find them regardless of the glacier’s movement. The reporting also confirmed that equipment was still recording data and had not fallen into crevasses or been buried in snow.

Another research program tracks the movements of icebergs in the Arctic Ocean to provide data to the World Climate Research Program. A satellite device proved to be the answer. Its compact design and long battery life made it practical to deploy via drone onto icebergs, where they reported GPS coordinates once per hour via satellite. Their low cost also made it practical to replenish them regularly when an iceberg’s rolling motion dumped them into the sea.

Emergency managers have a tough job compared with most of us. They spend their time imagining the worst that can happen and trying to prepare people, infrastructure, systems and logistics for it. The good news for them is that satellite IoT is making the job easier by the year.

The post Satellite IoT Helps Make the Best of the Worst appeared first on IoT Business News.

Globalstar, has partnered with Globalsat Group to deploy a jointly developed IoT solution powered by Globalstar’s satellite network designed to monitor renewable energy stations located in remote areas of Latin America.

The initial deployment will include 23,000 devices throughout the region with an expectation of additional opportunities in the short term.

The energy stations, which are installed in remote areas, have historically presented cost implications surrounding access and, similarly, without notice of service shutdowns, have caused additional loss of time, revenue, and information. The new solution will allow clients to obtain daily data, including information on equipment status and energy consumption. Maintenance costs will also be drastically reduced with preventive scheduling and real-time response. The solution will also provide monitoring visibility as a means of theft prevention.

“This deployment represents a critical milestone in our expansion into renewable energy verticals in Latin America,” said Juan Porras, General Manager of Globalstar for Latin America. “Through this partnership, we are now well positioned to expand into other energy markets around the world,” said David Kagan, CEO of Globalstar.

Globalstar and Globalsat have been working together since 2019 on solutions in the mining, oil and gas, and government industries throughout Latin America. Development of this renewable energy project started back in 2020.

J. Alberto Palacios, CEO of Globalsat Group, commented:

“It was a technically demanding development where we had to combine low power levels and high reliability, and our team was able to further optimize efficiency through the development of custom hardware, an aspect in which we are particularly proud of having been able to add value to this challenging project.”

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Realm application enablement platform empowers AI development at the edge — slashing development time and transmission costs.

• The low code, edge compute application enablement platform simplifies new applications and solutions development at a fraction of typical time and cost
• Integrity 150 is the first solar-powered satellite asset tracking device that utilizes data processing at the edge
• The ST150M module allows for quick integration and fast application development

Globalstar, Inc., a leading mobile satellite services and connectivity provider, today introduced Realm Enablement Suite, an innovative portfolio of satellite asset tracking hardware and software solutions featuring a powerful application enablement platform for processing smart data at the edge.

With Realm, partners can accelerate new solutions to market with AI-enabled applications that generate an advanced level of telematics data. By defining smart data at the edge, users send only the data they need over the highly reliable Globalstar LEO satellite network to the customer endpoint – significantly reducing transmission costs.

Realm Enablement Suite introduces Integrity 150, the first solar-powered, deployment-ready satellite asset tracking device with an application enablement platform; ST150M satellite modem module that drastically simplifies product development; and Realm application enablement platform, offering tools and an extensive library for quickly accessing and developing AI-enabled applications at the edge for vertical-specific solutions.

“This newest innovation from Globalstar represents a continued commitment to IoT as a core business pillar. With Realm Enablement Suite, customers have the flexibility and agility they need to optimize data from their tracking devices and edge sensors,” said Dave Kagan, Globalstar CEO. “Generating smart data at the edge for delivery to the customer endpoint makes all the difference in transmission efficiency and operational performance.”

Realm Enablement Suite Solutions:

• Integrity 150 satellite solar-powered asset tracking device delivers long-lasting, no-maintenance ownership for a variety of markets, including transportation, energy, construction, agriculture, forestry and government agencies. Featuring Globalstar’s industry-leading low-power design, it offers the longest battery and shelf life available. Integrated into the product is a GPS receiver, accelerometer, Arm CPU on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF5xxx SoC, standard and customizable messaging capability, tamper detection and BLE5 Bluetooth connectivity for a wide variety of sensors. Its flash memory offers 8MB of storage for application data and firmware updates.

• ST150M satellite modem module helps partners create new products in a fraction of normal development time and cost. The module includes a GPS receiver, accelerometer, Arm CPU on Nordic’s nRF5xxx SoC, 8MB external flash memory, integrated voltage regulator and BLE transceiver. Its low-power architecture allows integrators to minimize battery requirements. The ST150 Dev Kit provides an ST150M module with Arduino Uno Rev3 Form Factor and satellite and GPS patch antennas, the fastest way to develop and test technology designs before committing them to hardware.

• Realm enablement application platform is the key to unlocking the unlimited capabilities of field devices, slashing hundreds of hours of development time for new products and AI-enabled applications at the edge. The low code edge platform provides a lower barrier of entry for partners developing custom applications and solutions. Modular software features a Unified API for fast applications development and easy management of all hardware, platform-specific, and value-added edge features. This includes the Globalstar BLE library and ela Innovation BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) sensors libraries. The platform provides an ongoing applications development ecosystem as innovative solutions are added by Globalstar and shared by developers.

“The end-to-end design of the new Globalstar Realm Enablement Suite ecosystem removes the technology barriers to profitable innovation in the tracking and industrial IoT space,” said David Haight VP of IoT.

“Realm delivers greater speed and lower cost in both development and deployment by providing the flexibility to innovate with the power to host applications and process data on edge devices for faster action and enhanced performance. The Realm Enablement Suite is what our partners around the world have asked us for.”

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Company Introduces Additional SmartOne Solar Option for Customers.

Highlights:

• Specialist Globalstar integrator partner Advanced Tracking reaches key milestone of over 2,000 Globalstar IoT tracking devices deployed for its customers
• Globalstar’s SmartOne Solar satellite IoT transmitter is being deployed to provide reliable satellite tracking for leisure boat owners
• Advanced Tracking has now integrated SmartOne Solar into its www.konectis.com platform designed for leisure marine users; boat owners can benefit from energy efficient, low-maintenance and affordable satellite-enabled vessel tracking

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd, today announced that its SmartOne Solar satellite IoT transmitter is being deployed to provide satellite tracking for leisure boat owners.

The announcement comes as Globalstar integrator partner Advanced Tracking achieves the milestone of deploying over 2,000 Globalstar SmartOne C IoT tracking devices for its customers in the marine sector.

Advanced Tracking recently integrated SmartOne Solar into its www.konectis.com platform, a portal designed for leisure marine users. Konectis features multiple capabilities that are manageable via a dedicated dashboard and user interface that includes an anti-theft alarm system. With the addition of SmartOne Solar, Advanced Tracking is now enabling fleet owners and individual boating enthusiasts to benefit from efficient, ubiquitous satellite IoT enabled vessel tracking.

“In the leisure marine sector, when you own boats in the 10-25m range, budgets matter,” said Co-Founder and Managing Director of Advanced Tracking, Christophe Allan.

“We knew that by integrating SmartOne Solar, we’d have the ideal solution to provide cost-conscious boat owners with an affordable, high-quality solution to track their vessels,” Allan noted.

SmartOne Solar – A Low Maintenance, Wide Reaching IoT Device

The Globalstar SmartOne Solar monitors assets of any kind, whether fixed or mobile, including shipping containers, transport trailers, construction/farm machinery and vehicle fleets.

SmartOne Solar provides a low-maintenance and cost-efficient tracking option that is powered with solar-rechargeable batteries and can deliver multiple years of serviceable life. The device operates continuously for many months while reporting twice a day without the need for exposure to sunlight.

Allan points out SmartOne Solar’s ease-of-use and cable-free flexibility as major benefits.

“The advantage of SmartOne Solar is that it doesn’t need connection to a power source, so the device can be positioned in many different points on the boat based on preference. It is small and easy to install, with good performance quality. Because the device is autonomous, you just install it and off you go.”

Allan highlights the growing understanding that satellite connectivity is essential for reliable, ubiquitous coverage, saying: “The user could try other technologies, such as VHF or GSM, but as soon as you are out of range, you’ve lost track of the boat.”

The partnership between Globalstar and Advanced Tracking dates back to 2010. At that time, Advanced Tracking introduced Globalstar SmartOne C to its platform to replace/supplement its incumbent satcoms provider. One reason, Allan explains, was the need for a back-up satellite system to reduce exclusive reliance on one provider. “Price was also a big factor,” he adds: “SmartOne, and also Globalstar’s airtime packages, enable a really reasonably priced, quality solution for customers.”

Established in 2004, Advanced Tracking provides satellite tracking solutions and communication systems. Its comprehensive Konectis portal, whose features and communications preferences can be custom configured, is dedicated to meeting the needs of its marine customers, mainly owners of leisure sailing craft and motorboats.

“We’re delighted that SmartOne Solar is helping leisure craft owners cost-effectively track their valued boats,” said Globalstar EMEA General Manager Mark O’Connell. “We congratulate Advanced Tracking for providing the fast-growing leisure marine market with a highly effective solution that aids in tracking, improves safety and security and prevents potential failures.”

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Globalstar, Inc. today announced that it has signed a commercial agreement with Ceres Tag, to supply satellite services to the livestock industry through the world’s first and only smart ear tag for traceability provenance, biosecurity, health, animal welfare, production improvement and theft reduction.

This agreement follows Ceres Tag’s recent success in winning the SVG Ventures THRIVE Challenge and their ear tag being named as the #1 Big Breakthrough Technology for Ag Change in the Next Decade by the AgJournal of Weekend Australian.

The Ceres Tag platform uses the unique capabilities of Globalstar to produce a small and light weight (just over one ounce) smart ear tag that attaches to the animal and automatically sends the data to the cloud via the Globalstar Satellite Network.

The Ceres Tag requires no infrastructure, no maintenance and has a battery capable of lasting the lifetime of an animal making it the lowest cost, scalable, plug and play option for ranchers to produce better performing animals at a greater profit.

David Smith, CEO of Ceres Tag, commented:

“With over 1 billion cattle in the world and a similar number of sheep and goats, we now have a low-cost limitless way to monitor our animals. There has never been a more important time to know where your food has come from than during this pandemic.”

The unique relationship with Globalstar enables Ceres Tag to supply an automated daily recording of animals including world exclusive capabilities on pasture feed intake, which is primary to determining feed efficiency, genetic selection and managing of greenhouse gas. Traceability, biosecurity, performance, health and welfare have never been under more scrutiny than they are now.

David Kagan, CEO of Globalstar Inc., commented:
“We saw an immediate match between Globalstar and Ceres Tag to deliver this unique monitoring capability to over 80% of the world’s livestock that are located in remote locations where there is no infrastructure and where you may only see the animals once or twice a year.”

Smith also commented, “Ceres Tag is quickly becoming one of the world’s most comprehensive animal monitoring companies with a wildlife and pet platform, also well developed in the pipeline and due for launch in 2022.”

Kagan added:
“With this partnership, Globalstar will be one of the world’s largest providers of LEO satellite enabled IoT solutions. This partnership builds on a strategy of unlocking the full scalability of devices across several sectors. Animal monitoring is one of these areas in which we see significant growth opportunity.”

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• Globalstar satellite IoT devices are tracking and protecting over 30,000 free-roaming horses, including high-value racehorses, across Central Asia

• SmartOne C and SPOT Trace are at the heart of two complementary geo-fencing solutions

• Over 1,000 tracking collars deployed to date across Mongolia and Kazakhstan with expansion into Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other countries underway

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd. today announced that collars based on SmartOne C and SPOT Trace are being deployed in Mongolia and elsewhere in Central Asia to track horses, including high-value competitive racehorses.

Over 30,000 horses are currently being safeguarded by 1,000 satellite-enabled IoT collars in Mongolia with deployments expanding widely into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan while trials are underway in neighbouring territories.

Demand for the latest collar from Mongolia-based Globalstar Value Added Reseller Spotter, built around the small SmartOne C tracker, has been unprecedented, with the number of total deployed Spotter units doubling in the six months since the product’s July 2019 launch.

Horses are part of daily life in Mongolia and horse racing is a major sport nationwide. However, with the sparsely populated nation’s 4.5 million semi-wild horses roaming fence-free, keeping tabs on the animals is a major challenge for owners. In response to market demand, Spotter was established with the aim to devise a tracking solution using Globalstar technology.

The first collar which Spotter developed is based on Globalstar’s SPOT Trace tracker, chosen as it was the most economical and effective technology, and because its small size makes it easy to integrate into an IoT collar. Its ease-of-use, configurability – allowing the owner to choose the frequency of tracking – and fixed price for transmissions were also deciding factors. GPS trackers had shown inadequate reach in tests, and Globalstar was deemed better suited to meet users’ requirements than GSM mobile technology and satellite systems in geostationary orbit (GEO).

While the region’s horses typically do not travel more than 50km from home, they are known to wander hundreds of kilometres to find good grass. They can also get lost in high winds or while fleeing storms, occasionally going missing for months. Some never make it back to their owners, increasing the likelihood of theft.

The SmartOne C-based collar, with its longer battery life, is ideal for tracking far-roaming herds. If the owner receives tracking information six times daily, the system can deliver a full six months of tracking between battery changes.

Spotter’s collars transmit GPS locations over the Globalstar Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network. Both types of collars are tough enough to withstand the daily rigours of horses ranging across challenging terrain, often in extreme weather (-40 degrees Celsius in some areas), as well as the rough-and-tumble of herd life. The horses typically roam in herds of around 30, with one lead stallion keeping the animals together and providing protection. As a result, the group can be effectively monitored with just one collar.

Enkh-Amgalan Ganbaatar, Spotter Co-Founder & CEO, explains the different market segments:

“Requirements differ for tracking racehorses compared with ordinary horses, and depending on the location. Racehorse owners are eager to keep particularly close tabs on their valuable equines, so they appreciate the hourly tracking SPOT Trace enables. Meanwhile owners of family herds and those who use horses for transportation, meat and milk value the extended tracking duration and lower maintenance made possible through SmartOne C’s long battery life.”

One user benefitting from both solutions is NaranBilegt Sanjaajav, Khentii Province, Darkhan soum, who owns eight 30-horse herds as well as successful racers: “The tracking solutions from Spotter have transformed how I manage my horses. To be able to safeguard my racehorses, and to know that I will be able to find my farm horses no matter how far they roam, helps me protect my investment and gives me invaluable peace of mind.”

In very remote areas with very little infrastructure or landmarks, Google Maps is not informative enough to provide owners with the level of detail needed to locate their ranging horses. So, Spotter created an additional service enhancement which sends SMS messages with useful relational information. The owner can set up geo-fencing, for example “Home Zone” or “Water Point 3” and set alerts should the horses travel outside designated areas. The owner receives text messages with details such as “your herd is 1km south of Water Point 3”, saving time and resources by indicating where to search for the animals.

“We have been hugely impressed by the level of innovation from the team at Spotter,” commented Vijay Veerappan, Globalstar Regional Sales Manager for Asia. “Their solutions powerfully demonstrate the flexibility of Globalstar’s communications technologies, as well as our system’s reach and reliability. These satellite IoT solutions are transforming the lives of horse owners across Central Asia by protecting their much-treasured herds.”

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Small Satellite Tracker Foreseen as Game-Changer in Global Agriculture Industry.

Globalstar, Inc., today announced its partnership with Ceres Tag, a leader in livestock information systems using a proprietary smart ear tag, to conduct its final stages of commercial large-scale trials for the provenance and management of livestock.

These trials will be a significant scale extension of previous trials performed by Ceres Tag on 100 animals in North Queensland, Australia in early 2019.

The Globalstar and Ceres Tag partnership aims to improve efficiencies within the agriculture industry with benefits including livestock theft detection, better operational management for livestock location, improved provenance along the entire supply chain, improved detection and tracking for health and bio-security systems and more information on animal welfare.

Ceres Tag will commence large scale trials in Australia in multiple environmental and climatic conditions to test and validate the operational proficiency of its complete livestock information platform which has been a collaboration with Meat & Livestock Australia, Queensland Government, Commonwealth Science Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), James Cook University and Clandestine Design Group. Once trials are complete, Ceres Tag is expecting to enter the market in the second half of 2020.

“After partnering with Ceres Tag and CSIRO, we’ve been able to collaboratively produce an exciting and extremely small design using our Commercial IoT technology,” said David Kagan, CEO of Globalstar, Inc. “With no other infrastructure necessary on a ranch, this simple attach-and-go ear tag significantly reduces any installation headaches and provides great value to livestock farmers.”

David Smith, CEO of Ceres Tag, said:

“Ceres Tag’s capability for global provenance, traceability, health and welfare detection using the Globalstar Satellite Network will provide a new paradigm in risk reduction and transparency for the livestock industry. This new offering will provide benefits for all stakeholders from Paddock to Plate.”

“With mandated traceability tagging already implemented in many countries with many more adopting the practice in the future, including the USA, Ceres Tag will be unrivalled in delivering a new confidence to consumers while vastly improving farming operations.”

With a cattle population in excess of 1.2 billion in the world, often residing in remote agriculture environments, interest has been extensive for better communications to more effectively manage livestock operations. The collaboration between Globalstar and Ceres Tag is significant in that it is based on Globalstar’s proprietary IoT chipset that provides dependable, global connectivity by using satellite communications, enabled by Globalstar’s second-generation Low Earth Orbit satellite fleet.

The final product resulting from this partnership will be a small, lightweight ear tag applicable to a variety of livestock as well as other wildlife animals. Because of its flexibility, the ear tag will benefit not only the global agriculture industry, but also Governments seeking to improve their provenance and bio-security systems, finance and insurance institutions seeking to reduce risk, trading platforms seeking transparency, animal health company diagnostics for improved data driven decisions, retailers for food safety and security of final consumer products and many more along the complete supply chain network.

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20 million messages sent from FindMy’s animal collars over Globalstar network to date.

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., today announced that FindMy, the IoT animal tracking pioneer, has launched its next-generation tracker.

The FindMy e-Bell Model 2 collar is more robust, smaller and lighter, and now features Bluetooth for easy set-up and a longer-life replaceable battery for lower maintenance.

Today, as FindMy marks its 10-year partnership with Globalstar, and with over 45,000 collars deployed in the field, FindMy collars have transmitted 20 million IoT tracking messages by satellite, enabled by Globalstar’s powerful, low-cost STX3 chipset and its worldwide fleet of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. This data allows farmers to reliably monitor and protect their valuable herds wherever they roam, including regions beyond the reach of mobile phone networks.

The appeal of FindMy is such that it has even attracted customers whose farms are in locations with good mobile coverage – this is due to the price competitiveness of FindMy’s satellite-enabled solution, and the highly functional and user-friendly app and user interface which FindMy provides.

FindMy has spent the last two years designing and engineering the new animal collar, which will be available from Spring 2020. Additional new features include a custom antenna that adds extra assurance of successful message transmission, and a new app that makes it easy for farmers to configure and customise the collar’s transmission settings. The e-Bell Mark 2 is easily self-configurable for farmers and the new industrial-grade FindMy devices are engineered to meet military-level satcoms standards for robustness in all weather conditions.

Enhanced software can now deliver a complete snapshot update of the herd/flock location at particular times of day specified by the farmer dependent on when they head out to the hills to check on the animals. The system also includes an improved accelerometer sensitive enough to detect whether an animal is in distress, such as if it is frightened or being chased.

Norwegian sheep farmer Halvor Mjoen originally founded FindMy in 2009 to support his fellow sheep farmers whose flocks graze fence-free in the mountains and often range across borders into Sweden, Finland as well as Russia. In addition to monitoring sheep, FindMy has also been adopted by reindeer-herders, many with ancestral heritage from the indigenous Sami communities in the far North, whose livestock range across the Arctic Circle. FindMy’s reputation has further grown internationally and the system is now used as far away as on cattle ranches in South America.

“We have learned a lot in the last 10 years, and we have put all that knowledge into our next-generation tracker,” says Mjoen. “We owe our success to listening carefully to our customers, understanding their everyday operations, their pain points and working to deliver what they really need.”

He added: “Our close partnership with Globalstar, with its reliable, functional and cost-effective satellite technology, has played a huge role in our achievements.”

The STX3’s small size, ruggedness, long battery life, and ease of integration, as well as its competitive price, remain key compelling features for FindMy. It makes it possible for farmers to geo-fence livestock, helping them to monitor animals to ensure they graze only in designated areas, and to locate those that have escaped or are injured.

It also enables farmers to optimise their stock, ensure the animals have adequate food and water, while mitigating against disease and predation. FindMy’s data trail empowers farmers to analyse areas of best grazing and they can proactively manage grazing for future seasons.

FindMy’s custom user interface alerts farmers and herd managers when an animal has not moved for some time. With FindMy’s GPS data, they can identify exactly where to go to investigate, saving valuable time and resources. Farmers deploying the collars report a significant reduction in animal loss, with a consequent direct positive impact on their business.

Mark O’Connell, Globalstar EMEA General Manager, said:

“FindMy is a perfect example of design, engineering and industrial creativity, and amply demonstrates how satellite technology and the Internet of Things can be harnessed to powerfully solve real world problems.”

“We congratulate FindMy on its next-generation solution, and we look forward to our continued collaboration to help more farmers improve the welfare of their livestock, and enhance their businesses, across the Nordic region and beyond.”

Highlights:

• Leading IoT animal tracking specialist FindMy launches its next generation solution based on Globalstar satellite technology
• Farmers will benefit from FindMy’s new smaller, lighter, more robust animal collar with longer battery life and enhanced livestock management capability
• In its 10-year partnership with FindMy, Globalstar has enabled the transmission of 20 million FindMy messages with 45,000 collars now protecting sheep, cattle and reindeer

The post FindMy Launches Next Generation Satellite IoT Livestock Tracker Powered by Globalstar appeared first on IoT Business News.

Highlights:

• Leading IoT animal tracking specialist FindMy has to date deployed over 45,000 animal tracking collars, based on Globalstar satellite technology, across Scandinavia and South America to track sheep, cattle and reindeer

• At the heart of each FindMy collar is Globalstar’s STX3 simplex chipset for GPS tracking using satellite communications

• FindMy helps farmers safeguard income by finding lost animals, losing fewer to predators, and building knowledge of herd health and best grazing areas

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd. today announced that FindMy (formerly FindMySheep), the IoT animal tracking pioneer, has cumulatively deployed over 45,000 satellite-enabled IoT tracking collars for safeguarding sheep, cattle and reindeer.

FindMy relies on Globalstar’s powerful, low-cost STX3 chipset and its worldwide network of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which deliver reliable, accurate tracking far beyond the reach of mobile GSM and other technologies.

FindMy was originally founded to meet the needs of sheep farmers in Norway whose flocks graze fence-free in the mountains and often range across borders into Sweden and Finland. FindMy’s reputation is now established internationally and today ranchers in Latin America trust FindMy to monitor cattle.

STX3’s small size, ruggedness, long battery life, and ease of integration, as well as its competitive price, remain key compelling features for FindMy. FindMy’s tracking collars communicate with Globalstar’s satellite network to geo-fence livestock, helping farmers monitor animals to ensure they graze only in designated areas, and to locate those which have escaped or are injured.

With each animal worth hundreds or even thousands of Euros, losing livestock to predators or through illness not only affects revenues but can also have a profound impact on the quality of a farmer’s breeding foundation for years to come.

Thanks to the rich data transmitted by the FindMy system, farmers are empowered to manage their stock intelligently, and minimise loss due to inadequate food or water, disease or predators. FindMy provides an informative data trail that enables farmers to analyse where animals that produce the best quality meat are grazing, so farmers can proactively manage herds’ grazing for future seasons.

FindMy’s customised user interface alerts farmers and herd managers when an animal has not moved for some time. With FindMy’s GPS data, they can identify exactly where to go to investigate, saving valuable time and resources. Farmers deploying the collars report a significant reduction in animal loss, with a consequent direct positive impact on their business.

In October 2017, Globalstar announced that its technology is at the heart of SaveMyReindeer, a technology solution that FindMy designed to prevent trains from colliding with reindeer in Norway’s hinterland.

Hundreds of kilometres of Norway’s railroads, reaching inside the Arctic Circle, traverse territories inhabited by the region’s indigenous Sami communities who keep herds of free-roaming reindeer.

Each year, trains kill about 6,500 of the region’s 600,000 reindeer, with an estimated loss of €8.5 million of livestock. In 2016, the Norwegian mapping authority, Kartverket, sought a solution as part of its annual hackathon series. FindMy emerged the winner and SaveMyReindeer was developed.

SaveMyReindeer, currently in development and testing, uses data from the Norwegian Railway Directorate on the real-time location of each train combined with open data from Kartverket to create a moving geo-fence 40-50 km around the train. By comparing the geo-fence area with GPS data from FindMy collars already keeping tabs on reindeer, the system warns train drivers when they are approaching the animals so they can take evasive action. The reindeer owner simultaneously receives an alert on their smartphone, giving them the opportunity to move the herd out of harm’s way. By introducing SaveMyReindeer, fewer animals would be lost, and the train network would suffer less disruption.

Halvor Mjoen, Founder of FindMy, said:

“The FindMy animal tracking platform is helping farmers ensure the best possible health of their livestock, protecting animals from disease and predators, and maximising herd value.”

“Thanks to Globalstar’s ongoing commitment to IoT innovation, we will continue to find new ways to help farmers to monitor and safeguard their valuable animals,” he added.

The post FindMy Reaches Milestone of 45,000 Deployed Globalstar Satellite IoT Devices for Smart Animal Tracking appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sierra Wireless’ managed asset tracking service uses Globalstar’s SmartOne Solar device to provide satellite connectivity when cellular service is unavailable, enabling emergency response agencies to connect, track and manage thousands of relief assets when it matters most.

Sierra Wireless today announced the company has added solar power to its satellite-enabled asset tracking managed service, which allows agencies to connect, track and manage thousands of relief assets and respond to emergencies more effectively.

The company is using Globalstar, Inc.’s SmartOne Solar device to extend battery power and provide reliable satellite connectivity to ensure devices remain online and available when it matters most.

Following a natural disaster, like a hurricane or forest fire, it’s imperative that assets such as emergency equipment, temporary trailers for housing, and food and clean water supplies be deployed quickly to the right locations. When power and cellular networks are out of service, Sierra Wireless’ managed satellite asset tracking service with Globalstar’s SmartOne Solar device provides the reliability that agencies need to accurately deploy resources. Globalstar’s solar-powered device can run for up to 10 years on battery power, ensuring that agencies stay connected to assets in-motion.

“With Sierra Wireless’ managed asset tracking service, our customers can track high-value assets that are critical to effective, life-saving disaster responses,” said Marc Overton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, IoT Services, Sierra Wireless.

“When cellular service is unavailable, satellite asset tracking gives agencies insight into the status of mission-critical aid. Our service provides the reliable, secure connectivity needed to track and control assets sent into disaster zones.”

Using Sierra Wireless’ managed asset tracking service, with mapping and management software designed specifically for mission-critical situations, government agencies can monitor assets in chaotic environments and ensure that emergency responders get the tools they need to save lives and limit damage.

The managed service combines the SmartOne Solar device with software and resilient network connectivity to provide an off-the-shelf, market-ready service. Instead of spending time searching for vendors and building their own solution, Sierra Wireless helps customers deploy quickly with low up-front costs.

The solution also features Bluetooth capabilities which make it easier to update the device remotely in the field, saving time and money. Loss prevention features include geofencing, GPS location data and theft recovery modes, all of which improve visibility of expensive equipment and supplies while in remote locations around the world.

“Government agencies and organizations need dependable, up-to-date information to make informed decisions, especially when lost or delayed emergency response assets can mean endangering lives or spending tens of thousands of dollars replacing lost equipment,” said David Kagan, CEO, Globalstar. “The affordable SmartOne Solar device delivers dependable, low-latency, high-quality connectivity when it’s needed most, whether you’re tracking emergency supplies or crisis support vehicles.”

Availability

Sierra Wireless’ managed asset tracking service is available now.

The post Sierra Wireless Solar-Powered Satellite Asset Tracking Service Enables Reliable Emergency Disaster Response appeared first on IoT Business News.

• NATO’s scientific ocean research uses drifting buoys equipped with SPOT Trace trackers to study marine currents
• Using the Internet of Things (IoT) to better understand surface drift and dispersion patterns provides valuable information for environmental research, industry, and defence operations
• SPOT Trace was selected for its low cost and reliable, ubiquitous reach

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., announced today that scientists from the NATO’s Science and Technology Organisation (NATO STO) are deploying an IoT solution using SPOT Trace and Globalstar satellite communications to further their understanding of the world’s oceans.

Research teams from the NATO STO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), based in La Spezia, Italy, are embedding low-cost SPOT Trace devices in freely drifting buoys and setting them afloat in the Mediterranean and in Arctic waters to monitor surface drift behaviour. SPOT Trace tracks the movement of these ‘drifters’ and transmits their position data over Globalstar’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.

The CMRE carries out oceanography and ocean acoustics studies as part of innovative and field-tested Science & Technology (S&T) solutions to address defence and security needs of the NATO Alliance. The data is helping CMRE to measure and understand sea currents with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the changing sea environment and to inform NATO operational planning.

The research examines horizontal motion in the sea and how surface properties are transported deeper into the water column. This will lead to a greater understanding of changes in maritime characterisations such as temperature change, acoustic propagation, and the movement of biogeochemical properties (e.g. phytoplankton) and pollutants such as plastic.

With a requirement to track large quantities of drifters, SPOT Trace’s low device cost and affordable data charges were key factors in NATO’s procurement decision. Buoys are fitted with a tiny (7×5 cm) SPOT Trace device which includes an integrated GPS receiver, simplex transponder and motion sensor. Thanks to Globalstar’s fast-moving LEO spacecraft and SPOT Trace’s long battery life, research teams benefit from high frequency sampling, up to every five minutes, and more precise, granular tracking than has been possible with other solutions.

NATO STO CMRE is conducting several studies in parallel. One, sponsored by the US Office of Naval Research, is using SPOT Trace-equipped drifters to conduct oceanographic studies in the Alboran Sea in the Mediterranean, between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.

In addition, CMRE’s own studies of drift movement in the seas of the Arctic will see buoys deployed in the Barents Sea, and further into Arctic waters, in Summer 2019.

“The maritime areas in the High North are the new frontier for oceanographic study and more research is crucial. In particular, with polar ice decreasing, we need to understand how Arctic ocean life will be impacted,” said Dr Pierre-Marie Poulain, Principal Scientist and Project Leader at CMRE. Furthermore, Arctic research becomes fundamental to guarantee safe and secure maritime traffic in the new routes around the North Pole.

“It is yet another endorsement of SPOT Trace’s flexibility and reliability that NATO chose Globalstar technology to help support its oceanographic research,” commented Gary King, SPOT Regional Sales Manager EMEA at Globalstar.

“Our changing environment is affecting all kinds of activity on the seas, and we are glad that Globalstar’s combination of state-of-the-art satellite communications and economical prices are helping achieve the goal of better scientific understanding.”

The post NATO Deploys Globalstar’s IoT Satellite Technology for Oceanography Research appeared first on IoT Business News.

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, announced today that France’s Société Forestière has chosen SPOT Gen3 to protect forest management workers.

In an emergency, workers can press a single SOS button to request help and share their precise GPS location.

By the end of 2017, 100 SPOT Gen3 devices will be deployed nationally, supporting forest based operations in six regions. Additional SPOT Gen3’s may subsequently be rolled out.

Société Forestière conducted trials of GSM-based alternatives, including iPhone apps, but these were deemed insufficient due to inadequate reach in the remote areas where forest-based operations take place, and also due to poor battery life. Other solutions proposed by France’s mobile network companies failed to function in locations where signal was weak.

French legislation obliges commercial and non-commercial organisations to provide the best possible security to safeguard lone and remote workers.

Société Forestière was able to see the hugely positive results from the UK Forestry Commission’s deployment of more than 700 SPOT Gen3 devices to improve the safety of staff working in areas with unreliable mobile phone and radio communications.

In an emergency situation, Société Forestière workers can press SPOT’s SOS button to alert emergency services via the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC). SPOT Gen3’s tracking feature allows first responders and colleagues to locate forestry staff even if they are unable to press the emergency button following an incident. SPOT Gen3 can be pre-configured to send location data to a central operations co-ordinator every 2.5, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes.

“We knew we needed a solution that was independent of GSM mobile networks and other terrestrial alternatives,” said Alain Guillon, Information Systems and IT Security Officer at Société Forestière. “After testing SPOT, we were confident to recommend the SPOT system to the Health and Safety Committee as the best way to protect workers, and to uphold our staff welfare obligations.”

Gary King, Globalstar EMEA Sales Manager for SPOT, commented:

“Société Forestière oversees a wide range of forest-based activity, with its prime goals to ensure better forest management and to protect the forest-based investments of its clients. SPOT is now playing a vital role in safeguarding lone workers as they carry out their important duties to manage and preserve France’s forests and forest-based businesses.”

The post Globalstar’s SPOT Gen3 to Protect Forest Workers Across France appeared first on IoT Business News.

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd*, announced today that its technology is at the heart of the SaveMyReindeer solution.

Developed by specialist animal tracking provider, FindMy, this IoT solution is designed to prevent trains from colliding with reindeer in Norway’s hinterland.

Hundreds of kilometres of Norway’s railroads, reaching inside the Arctic Circle, traverse territories inhabited by the region’s indigenous Sami people, for whom keeping herds of reindeer as livestock has for millennia been central to their culture and economy. These animals roam free, often migrating into Sweden and Finland.

Each year, trains kill about 6,500 of the Nordic region’s 600,000 reindeer, with an estimated loss of €8.5 million of livestock. In 2016 the Norwegian mapping authority, Kartverket, sought a solution as part of its annual hackathon series. FindMy emerged the winner and SaveMyReindeer was developed as a proof of concept.

FindMy, formerly known as FindMySheep, uses the Globalstar network and STX3 chipset for its animal tracking collars and services, including SaveMyReindeer.

SaveMyReindeer uses data from the Norwegian Railway Directorate on the real-time location of each train combined with open data from Kartverket to create a moving geo-fence 40-50 km around the train. By comparing the geo-fence area with GPS data from FindMy collars already keeping tabs on reindeer, the system warns train drivers when they are approaching the animals so they can either accelerate to get out of the herd’s way, slow down or stop the train. The reindeer owner simultaneously receives an alert on their smartphone warning them that their animals may be in danger, giving them the opportunity to move the herd out of harm’s way.

Because reindeer are herd animals, any collision with a train can injure as many as 50 of them at a time. Train conductors are authorised to carry guns to humanely kill any seriously hurt animals, but soon this will no longer be the case. Now, local authorities will be dispatched to deal with injured animals. With SaveMyReindeer, Globalstar’s satellite network will give these agencies the precise GPS location of the incident so they can reach the location quickly.

As well as fewer reindeer deaths, preventing collisions reduces the impact of trauma on train staff and improves the reliability of the train service. The SaveMyReindeer system is now being considered for testing elsewhere on the Norwegian national railroad system.

FindMy and Kartverket are also considering how this system could make Norway’s highways safer. The solution could feed warnings to smart signs – live electronic displays which indicate optimal speed limits based on current weather conditions and traffic, and which mitigate the dangers of animals roaming onto highways.

“Reindeer husbandry is an ancient and important element of Norway’s economy and also hugely significant in the culture of our indigenous people,” said Kristin Skjerven, Senior Advisor with Kartverket. “FindMy’s IoT solutions are already proven in protecting sheep and cattle and SaveMyReindeer holds even more potential to prevent needless incidents, while helping the nation’s railway users suffer fewer disruptions and improving train staff welfare.”

Halvor Mjoen, Founder of FindMy, said:

“When designing SaveMyReindeer, we knew that only satellite would give us the reach we needed in remote regions. Other requirements were low power consumption and minimal maintenance since reindeer live outdoors year-round. Low cost was also a key requirement to drive higher volumes of collars, and allows us to develop new international markets – Globalstar plays a big part in making all of this possible. Moreover, we have only just scratched the surface as to how IoT can be used; we believe there will be many more meaningful and practical applications.”

Summary:

• SaveMyReindeer uses Globalstar-enabled IoT satellite tracking to prevent trains colliding with herds of free-roaming reindeer in Norway, Sweden and Finland
• Solution will save countless animals’ lives by alerting owners and train drivers to danger
• FindMy solutions already track over 30,000 sheep and cattle in Norway, Sweden and Finland
• Globalstar satellite technology chosen for its ubiquitous reach, low power consumption and affordability

The post Globalstar IoT Solution Protects Norway’s Reindeer from Train Collisions appeared first on IoT Business News.

Cutting asset management time, cost and paperwork, satellite solution achieves positive ROI for Shell in just three months.

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today announced that global oil giant Shell has deployed a satellite-based asset management solution in the Netherlands to securely manage its movable assets on land and at sea.

By more closely and efficiently managing its high value assets and their associated test certification, Shell has achieved a positive return on investment (ROI) on the solution in just three months.

The Alltrack track and trace solution, provided by Globalstar’s Dutch-based Value Added Reseller Improvement-IT, incorporates QR codes, Globalstar’s SmartOne satellite asset managers and a cloud-based content management system.

Alltrack has been integrated with Shell’s internal mapping software utility to make it easy to precisely locate assets, while geo-fencing confirms that items are in the right place. The solution ensures that equipment test certificates are valid, eliminating paperwork while cutting time and costs as well as speeding up supply chain operations.

To date, Shell has deployed 250 SmartOne devices attached to a variety of high value assets including pumps, tools, power supplies and generators, which may be on land, in containers, in transit or offshore. With terrestrial mobile communications networks being incomplete, unreliable or non-existent in these locations, satellite was the only reliable communications option.

Improvement-IT chose to use Globalstar’s SmartOne simplex asset manager for communications because of its reliability, long battery life and ability to switch between battery and line-powered as required. SmartOne uses motion sensors, comparative GPS positions and sensors to gather and transmit asset status information over Globalstar’s satellite network.

Designed from the outset to be easy to use for non-technical staff, Alltrack requires just 15 minutes of training. There are currently approximately 100 users at Shell, with more being added.

Shell originally started by using 2D QR style codes to track down hole drilling tools for oil and gas platforms as they went into and out of its warehouses. Then, in 2015, Shell extended this facility to tracking assets being put into containers for transport or storage, and tracking them by GPS, communicating the containers’ status back to headquarters using Globalstar’s satellite network.

“Shell has very challenging asset management requirements as its equipment is used down wells and in environments with high pressure and temperature,” said Daan te Nuijl, Managing Director at Improvement IT. “We created a specialist solution for Shell and chose the Globalstar network and technology for communications because of their reliability, security, low cost and ease of doing business with the company.”

“The deployment has gone smoothly and immediately started delivering benefits to Shell by cutting the time and cost involved in finding assets and ensuring the correct certifications were in place,” te Nuijl added.

Shell is now testing “track and trace” in other parts of the business, including monitoring pipe and tube materials, with a view to expanding its use. Plus, third parties who manage certification processes and those who manage tools for Shell can now benefit from using the system too.

Albert Bos, Team Leader, Well Services Workshop at Shell, said:

“This new satellite-based solution ensures we get the full picture of where our assets are even if they are on a rig in the North Sea. We have gone from a paperwork-intensive environment to a hosted asset management system that makes decision-making quick and easy.”

“When a container arrives at the warehouse, security officers now already know what’s inside and the test certificates are automatically validated, saving significant time. We can also easily see which of our rented assets are being underutilised and so we can return them and cut costs,” he added.

“Shell’s use of Alltrack is a great example of how organisations can increase productivity dramatically by extending communications in remote locations and offshore with satellite technology. Alltrack has significantly improved the efficiency of operations at Shell and this will only increase as they use the solution to monitor more and more assets,” said Corry Brennan, Simplex Regional Sales Manager – EMEA at Globalstar.

The post Shell Selects Globalstar Satellite Asset Tracking Solution to Manage High Value Equipment on Land and Offshore appeared first on IoT Business News.

Globalstar Inc., the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today launched its latest Simplex asset manager, the SmartOne C.

News highlights:

• SmartOne C breaks new ground in commercial asset management
• Compact, robust device provides connectivity for assets of any kind, whether fixed or mobile, virtually anywhere including areas well beyond cellular coverage
• Creates new opportunities for customers to leverage the power of the Internet of Things (IoT)

The SmartOne C complements Globalstar’s existing SmartOne B model while opening up new opportunities for a wide range of businesses to monitor and manage their fixed and portable assets including shipping containers, transport trailers, construction machinery and vehicle fleets.
At the core of the SmartOne C is an accelerometer that alerts owners to any unexpected motion, such as attempts of theft. The device can dynamically report asset status and monitor faults, both of which can significantly enhance operating efficiency across numerous metrics. Since the launch of the original SmartOne in 2012, over 150,000 units have been shipped and used across multiple industry sectors including multimodal, aviation, alternative energy and military customers.
This enhanced model expands Globalstar’s Simplex solutions portfolio set and offers commercial and governmental customers the opportunity to benefit from the smallest simplex asset manager in the marketplace.

Globalstar SmartOne C

“The reliability and reach of our global LEO satellite network allows us to offer a superior M2M management service and with the launch of SmartOne C, we can continue to provide compact, feature-rich, cost-effective solutions.”

As further evidence of the robustness of SmartOne, should the line power be interrupted or fail, the SmartOne B and SmartOne C both automatically switch to battery back-up to provide uninterrupted transmissions. The SmartOne C uses four AAA 1.5V lithium batteries that provide over 1.5 years of battery life. Using line-power enables shorter messaging intervals for more frequent monitoring of an asset’s location or reporting of external sensor state.

The SmartOne C uses motion sensors, comparative GPS positions and custom configured sensors to gather and transmit asset status information. It is designed for easy installation, without requiring external antennas or power. Customers can choose from a variety of software applications from Globalstar’s network of Value Added Resellers allowing the device to be custom-configured for each asset’s specific management needs, providing remote access to asset data, and providing alerts to managers/authorities via customized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), by email or text.

SmartOne C features include:

• Reduced messaging mode: when the asset remains in the same location, messaging is reduced to increase battery longevity
• Message settings: Wake, GPS locate, transmit location, resume sleep and additional 12 programmable sleep and time-of-wake settings
• Small size: 2.7 (H) x 3.25 (W) x 1 IN (D) including brackets [69 x 83 x 25 mm]
• Lightweight: 3.6oz/102g including four batteries and mounting hardware
• Quick and flexible installation: uses industrial adhesives, brackets or screw mounts for installation
• Simple design: requires no harnesses, external power or external antenna
• Accepts contact and serial signals (TTL) from external inputs

The post Globalstar Launches Satellite Industry’s Smallest Commercial One-Way Asset Manager appeared first on IoT Business News.

Today, Globalstar Inc. launched the STX3 simplex satellite global transmitter, featuring the lowest power-consuming technology currently on the market.

This makes the STX3 a key requirement for customers whose monitoring devices are dispersed in remote and harsh environments.

Globalstar engineers have shrunk the chip technology to be a third of the size of its predecessor, the widely-deployed STX2. About the size of a quarter, and with low-cost and low-power, the STX3 is designed to be easily integrated into a broad range of M2M devices and applications for cost-effective remote sensing, tracking and monitoring of items as diverse as sheep, ships and meters.

These attributes also make the STX3 ideal for hybrid GPRS/GSM-based M2M tracking or monitoring devices to provide a cost-effective, satellite-based backup communications solution for areas where mobile network reception is either patchy or non-existent.

Ovinto, an M2M telematics specialist based in Belgium, is one VAR who has been testing the STX3 chipset.
“We have been using the STX2 for many years as it meets our stringent requirements for reliability in even the harshest of environments including contact with explosive materials,” said Frederick Ronse, Founder and CEO of Ovinto.

“We have been testing the STX3 and see great potential in using this new technology, particularly its very long battery life. Our customers want to use Ovinto Sat with the reassurance that they can go years without having to replace device batteries in wagons and containers across Europe.”

Mobiltex Data Ltd., of Calgary, Alberta, was the first company to design a product specifically around the STX3. Engineering Manager Tony da Costa praised the product saying:
“The small size of the Globalstar STX3 transmitter module was a crucial factor that allowed Mobiltex to design a unique miniature remote pipeline monitoring product that could be mounted inside existing space-constrained enclosures.  Coupled with the excellent Globalstar Simplex coverage footprint, low recurring monthly service costs, and low transmitter power requirements, the decision to use Globalstar for this product was an easy one.”

The STX3 module sends one-way data messages via the Globalstar Simplex Network when integrated into a tracking or monitoring device. The module is easily integrated into devices for fixed and mobile asset management, remote sensing, data reporting and data logging applications over a near-global network. Use cases include: dual device tracking (GSM/Satellite), animal tracking, pipeline management, fleet management (marine and vehicular) and many other M2M applications with size constraints.

“We see a huge opportunity for VARs and OEMs to incorporate the STX3 chipset into compact and efficient communications devices targeted at a wide and fast-growing range of vertical markets,” said Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar.

“With its unrivalled low power consumption and small size, this chipset has the potential to accelerate the adoption of satellite-based M2M – both satellite-only solutions and hybrid cellular/satellite offerings.”

The post Globalstar Introduces World’s Lowest Power-Consuming Satellite Network Chipset for Global M2M Solutions appeared first on IoT Business News.

Expanding M2M Applications fuels growth for Globalstar Simplex data as developers can now easily integrate affordable satellite connectivity into their enterprise remote monitoring solutions

Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSAT), today announced that Globalstar Value Added Manufacturer Lasso Technologies, LLC (Lasso), has introduced an innovative satellite interface which allows easy and affordable access to the Globalstar satellite network for remote M2M monitoring applications.  The new Lasso interface provides Globalstar Smartone Simplex Device connectivity to a variety of external sensors and devices supporting Analog (Voltage and Current), Frequency, Event Counters, RS-232, SCI, I2C, ODB2 and J1939 inputs.

“Lasso’s revolutionary new interface expands Globalstar’s reach into the M2M marketplace by simplifying field sensor and device integration for their remote SCADA applications,” said Jake Rembert, Senior Director of U.S. Sales and Marketing for Globalstar, Inc. 

“Until now, customers and Value Added Resellers were unable to take full advantage of Globalstar’s Smartone modem’s capabilities without spending time and resources to customize their products to one of our Simplex data standards. The immediate expected benefits include speed to market in addition to reducing integration time and effort to transmit sensor data from virtually anywhere around the world using the Globalstar satellite network.”

Dudley Volcansek, Vice President of Sales for Lasso Technologies LLC said, “We are very excited about the synergy we have created between the Globalstar VAR network and Lasso Technologies.  “We expect the new Lasso Technologies interface will dramatically increase the VARs’ ability to bring additional solutions to their customers.”

The capability to acquire data from remotely located sensors and transmit that information through the Globalstar network, gives enterprise customers the ability to make decisions based upon real time actionable information.  From remote locations around the world, clients can now receive real-time sensor delivered information about tank levels, fluid flow volumes, environmental data, machine equipment, asset status, engine run time and other vital information.

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