Rechargeable IoT tag

Link Labs has released a Rechargeable SuperTag IoT device.

Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the Rechargeable SuperTag can be recharged hundreds of times and can be configured as a hub to scan and uplink data for up to 1,000 Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) tags.

AirFinder SuperTag is a first-of-its-kind commercial IoT tracking device that blends four different technologies – GPS/GNSS, WiFi 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.

It transitions from one technology to another, as needed and depending upon conditions, and allows for flexible configurations based on the unique requirements of each specific 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, CEO of Link Labs.

“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, an EU-funded project, approximately 78 million batteries powering IoT devices will be discarded globally every day by 2025 if nothing is done to expand their lifespan. With this many batteries being wasted, it is reasonable to expect device and maintenance costs to continue to go up, making asset tracking expensive.

Adopting a Real Time Location System (RTLS) with a rechargeable asset tag, like Rechargeable SuperTag, ensures companies can save time and money in asset tracking.

The super tag includes:

• LTE-M/NB-IoT cellular connectivity (TPM540-based module)
• GNSS receiver (integrated in TPM540-based module)
• WiFi 2.4Ghz receiver for WiFi positioning
• Bluetooth 5.0, including ability to act as a hub for other BLE devices w/o cellular access
• Accelerometer
• IP68 rating enclosure

The Rechargeable SuperTag will have limited availability beginning in January 2022, but orders can be placed now.

Link Labs was founded in 2014 by a group of engineers from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. It is based in Annapolis, Md. and holds more than 20 patents.