Link Labs has announced the release of its Rechargeable SuperTag device. The Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled product was designed to solve a common problem with asset tracking in various industries, according to the company—namely, the need to replace batteries when they run out of power. The Rechargeable SuperTag can be used indoors, outdoors and on the road, the company reports, and it can be recharged hundreds of times. The unit can be configured as a hub to scan and uplink data for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags, the company reports.
Link Labs offers an IoT-based platform for locating, managing and monitoring assets, equipment and supplies. Its AirFinder product line is designed to help companies in multiple industries locate and manage business assets. Founded in 2014 by engineers from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, the company reports that it has deployed hundreds of thousands of IoT devices to date, managing billions of events on a monthly basis. The firm is based in Annapolis, Md., and holds more than 20 technological patents.
The AirFinder SuperTag is a commercial IoT tracking device that combines four technologies—GPS/GNSS, Wi-Fi location lookup, cell ID and Link Labs’ AirFinder Indoor Positioning Network—to provide continuous, end-to-end visibility of assets in both indoor and outdoor environments. The product transitions from one technology to another as needed and depending upon conditions, the company explains, and it is designed to allow for flexible configurations based on the unique requirements of any given application.
“When we first launched SuperTag earlier this year, we were very excited about the positive impact that having an asset-tracking system for both indoor and outdoor settings could have on our clients and their industries,” said Bob Proctor, Link Labs’s CEO, in a prepared statement. “Building on this momentum and realizing the need to combat the mass disposal of batteries being used in IoT devices, we are confident that making this first-of-its-kind device truly sustainable through recharging will open it up to even more companies and industries.”
According to EnABLES, a European Union-funded project, approximately 78 million batteries powering IoT devices are expected to be discarded daily by 2025 if nothing is done to expand their lifespan. With this many batteries being wasted, Link Labs notes, device and maintenance costs are expected to rise, making asset tracking unaffordable. Adapting a real-time location system (RTLS) with a rechargeable asset tag, the company says, can help businesses reduce the expense of asset tracking, and the Rechargeable SuperTag was created with this need in mind.
Configuration options are available for the Rechargeable SuperTag, enabling users to meet customers’ specific needs. The device can be configured as a hub to scan and uplink data for up to 1,000 BLE tags or 1,000 unique filter matches. The device provides access to real-time location and condition data, and it comes with an accelerometer for motion detection. According to the company, the Rechargeable SuperTag will be made available beginning in January 2022, though orders can be placed now.