Recent RuBee Press Releases
January 19, 2016
Visible Assets, Inc. and Eagle Eye Innovations BV Launch Plate 20/20; the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), for Steel Construction Plates.
Visible Assets, Inc. has licensed Eagle Eye Innovation BV, an integrated, automated visibility network, based on wireless RuBee tags (IEEE 1902.1) embedded in steel construction plates. RuBee replaces RFID in harsh environments, and provides enhanced construction site steel plate safety, rental records, optimized inventory, security and accountability.
Visible Assets, Inc. and Eagle Eye Innovations BV Launch Plate 20/20; the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), for Steel Construction Plates.
Visible Assets, Inc. has licensed Eagle Eye Innovation BV, an integrated, automated visibility network, based on wireless RuBee tags (IEEE 1902.1) embedded in steel construction plates. RuBee replaces RFID in harsh environments, and provides enhanced construction site steel plate safety, rental records, optimized inventory, security and accountability.
January 19, 2016, Visible Assets, Inc. (VISIBLE™) Stratham, NH, announced today that it has signed an exclusive license agreement with Eagle Eye Innovation BV (EEI) to supply and support Plate 20/20 within the Netherlands. Plate 20/20 is a steel construction plate visibility system, manufactured by Visible Assets that uses RuBee wireless tags (www.rubee.com) embedded on the edge of these steel plates. Steel plates are widely used in the construction industry for temporary roads, soil erosion prevention, and as covers for excavated trenches. Plate rental companies typically rent the plates to construction sites. Because of the harsh conditions, including steel, mud, and water, RF-based technologies (RFID, WiFI Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee) have proven unreliable. The RuBee tags are fully embedded in the steel plates and replace RF fields with a magnetic field (www.rubee.info/EEI-WWW). RuBee and Plate 20/20 provide 100% read accuracy in stacks of 30-60 high plates. The tags are expected to have a minimum ten-year battery life, and are in a MIL-STD-810G sealed rugged package.
John Stevens, CEO of Visible Assets, Inc. said, “This agreement represents an important milestone for RuBee and our company. We have made a major investment in the defense industry where we meet the very high standards for harsh environment reliability, security, intrinsic safety near explosives and fused ordnance, and human safety. We have many customers with strong technical requirements, who make aircraft parts, integrated missile systems, and with Armory 20/20 and Store 20/20 we provide automated security for armories, and explosives stores, including nuclear weapons all over the world. RuBee is unique in that it offers a HERO ZERO, HERF ZERO and a secure wireless visibility solution. We have recently seen a growing demand in 4.0 Manufacturing applications and other industrial applications where the only requirement is 100% read reliability within harsh environments. The Plate 20/20 system with EEI as an important new RuBee application example, and diversifies RuBee into the construction industry, and Industrial IoT, with one of the leading Dutch steel plate suppliers as partners.
The Netherlands rents about 1,000,000 plates each year, through about half a dozen rental companies. The European market rents an additional 20,000,000 plates each year, through many additional rental companies. These plates are considered mission critical assets at thousands of construction sites across Europe and US. They must meet a number of safety standards, come in a variety of sizes (150 cm x 250 cm x 11mm to 250 cm x 600 cm x 15mm) and can weigh from 725 kg to 3,000 kg.
Gjalt Loots, Spokesperson for Eagle Eye Innovation BV, said “The Construction industry and Eagle Eye have tried many other RF base technologies, but the steel, mud and water make RF-based systems unreliable. Visible Assets designed a custom RuBee tag that is embedded on the edge of a 15mm thick plate, and works 100% of the time, even underwater. The plates are typically stacked 30 to 60 high in a yard or construction site and a single RuBee loop antenna around the base can do a fully-automated inventory of stacked plates many times a day. We can also do a human-assisted inventory in minutes with a handheld reader. The RuBee tags and Plate 20/20 represent a major step forward in automation within the construction industry, and represent an important new example of the Industrial Internet of Things.
About Visible Assets, Inc.
Visible Assets, Inc. is a privately held US company, based in Stratham, New Hampshire. Visible Assets designs, manufactures, and supports RuBee wireless real-time asset visibility solutions and networks based on the IEEE 1902.1 standard. Visible Assets provides integrated visibility solutions for a variety of markets though RuBee application partners, including National Oilwell Varco, Lockheed Martin, US Department of Defense, and many others. RuBee Visibility Networks are installed and working in over 1,200 commercial and government sites. Visible Assets, Inc. has an active RuBee licensing program.
About Eagle Eye Innovation
Eagle Eye Innovation BV is a service provider that originates from a major steel plate rental company in the Netherlands, Schaap de with. EEI and Schaap de With cooperate with Lekkerkerker Rotterdam and Swanenberg (see links below). EEI has been created specifically to address the inventory management and visibility issues of these plates within Holland and has been supported by TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. EEI will provide an integrated command and control center for these plates based on the Plate 20/20 systems to the $6 billion EUR Dutch construction industry.
For Press Images and Background Material go to - www.rubee.info/EEI-WWW
Contacts:
John Stevens, CEO
Visible Assets, Inc.
617-395-7601
info@rubee.com
www.rubee.com
Gjalt G. Loots V.P. TNO
Eagle Eye Innovation BV
+31 65140 7343 Phone
gjalt.loots@tno.nl
www.schaapdewith.nl
www.lekkerkerker.com
www.swanenberg.com
www.tno.nl
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February 23, 2015
DENVER, Feb. 23, 2015 ––A new, advanced weapons maintenance system developed by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Visible Assets, Inc. that manages, diagnoses and tracks sensitive assets such as munitions could potentially save the U.S. Navy millions by automating the time-consuming process of weapons tracking.
AUTOMATING THE ARMORY: NEW WEAPONS TRACKER SUCCESSFULLY TESTED BY U.S. NAVAL FORCES
DENVER, Feb. 23, 2015 ––A new, advanced weapons maintenance system developed by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Visible Assets, Inc. that manages, diagnoses and tracks sensitive assets such as munitions could potentially save the U.S. Navy millions by automating the time-consuming process of weapons tracking.
The system, the RuBee® Weapon Shot Counter, addresses the challenge of tracking sensitive munitions remotely. Traditional radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can’t always be read or accessed through metals, liquids and other materials; they’re also subject to eavesdropping by those wanting access to information about monition supply. In contrast, RuBee operates on the electromagnetic spectrum, rather than the RF spectrum, and is not subject to these deficiencies.
Before the creation of RuBee, munitions at armories had to be tracked manually in a labor intensive process. Early findings from a recent pilot program testing the system with U.S. Navy expeditionary forces found that the system could potentially save a single armory millions of dollars in labor charges annually though automation.
“Most processes for tracking ammunition and scheduling maintenance for weapons are time consuming and manually intensive,” said Dr. Rob Smith, vice president of C4ISR for Lockheed Martin. “We worked with select Navy expeditionary forces to demonstrate that the RuBee system could not only increase the accuracy of their inventories, but also reduce costs, improve safety and maximize asset security.”
During the multi-phased pilot program, RuBee tags were embedded in select Naval assets to track weapon performance and diagnostic data. The system operated as designed for the duration of the pilot. RuBee successfully provided maintenance and diagnostic data, such as number of rounds fired, rate of fire and calculated barrel temperature. The diminutive sensors also detected performance anomalies, such as gas port erosion and cracked bolts, before they led to potential weapon failure.
RuBee-enabled weapons can be automatically located and identified as they enter or exit a defined perimeter or armory. RuBee’s magnetic signal can be read through and around metal and other materials, thus eliminating the need for hands-on inventory scans and allowing the armorer to remotely audit armory. Lockheed Martin is now working to expand this effort from a pilot to a full program that generates cost savings and increases confidence in weapon safety.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were $45.6 billion.
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February 20, 2014
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 20, 2014 –– Accurate tracking of munitions and other assets in harsh and/or sensitive environments is now possible through a wireless automatic identity technology introduced by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT].
News Release
Download PDF English
LOCKHEED MARTIN INTRODUCES SECURE WIRELESS TAGGING AND TRACKING CAPABILITY FOR MANAGING SENSITIVE ASSETS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 20, 2014 –– Accurate tracking of munitions and other assets in harsh and/or sensitive environments is now possible through a wireless automatic identity technology introduced by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT].
Working with Visible Assets, Inc., Lockheed Martin co-developed sensitive item tracking capabilities that use magnetic fields to track assets in locations where traditional radio frequency technologies (RFID) encounter challenges.
“Historically, tracking sensitive items has been a very manual process demanding hundreds of man hours in sometimes volatile explosive environments,” said Dr. Robert Smith, vice president of C4ISR for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions. “This unique system not only tags and tracks sensitive items and fused munitions at zero separation, it also incorporates advanced sensors that can be used for predictive maintenance of weapons.”
Based on the international wireless protocol standard (IEEE 1902.1), this electromagnetic tagging and tracking solution, called RuBee®, can be used to identify and track a variety of sensitive items including fused ordnances, firearms, night vision goggles and flack jackets. Each item is outfitted with a wireless visibility tag, which can be read and located anytime from the RuBee network.
One example of this application is the Lockheed Martin Armory, which allows all tagged items be networked and housed on “smart racks.” The smart rack allows users to physically audit all items several times each day without any human help or intervention.
Because RuBee tags operate on electromagnetic, rather than radio frequency wavelengths, solutions based on this technology offer extremely high levels of security. Data passed through these channels operate more like secure peer-to-peer networks, and are less prone to outsider attempts to access information. RuBee visibility solutions are currently used in many high security U.S. government and international facilities.
Independent tests carried out by the U.S. Navy concluded that RuBee tags, readers and base stations pose no risk to munitions and have no negative effects on military fuel. These tests marked the first time the U.S. Navy found no required safe separation distance for wireless technology under the Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordinance (HERO); other technologies require separation from munitions ranging from three to 12 feet to prevent inadvertent activation or disablement.
“Obtaining a zero safe separation distance under the HERO military standard for fused ordnance was a landmark event and means that RuBee can safely provide real-time audits, accountability, pedigree, diagnostics and security to a wide variety of explosive devices, ordnance and munitions stored in the many thousands of sensitive item stores and facilities around the world,” said CEO and Chairman John Stevens, Visible Assets Inc. “We look forward to many new worldwide opportunities with Lockheed Martin as a long-term partner.”
This tracking solution can also be used to ensure readiness and maintenance of weapons. Using the same RuBee technology, the Allegro Weapon Shot Counting can identify optimal maintenance periods for weapon parts as well as help detect performance anomalies before they lead to weapon failure. In addition to determining normal wear based on rounds fired, the rate of fire statistics and temperature readings show how the rounds were fired and provide early warning signs for required cleaning, gas port erosion and cracked bolts.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 115,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.
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Media Contact: Suzanne Smith, 303-229-4456; suzanne.m.smith@lmco.com
For more information,
visit: Lockheed Martin C4ISR Systems
July 24th, 2012
The U.S. Navy released a test report that shows RuBee Auto-ID wireless tags, handhelds and base stations have a zero (0) Safe Separation Distance (SSD) on HERO SAFE and HERO UNSAFE Ordnance. Other wireless technologies (RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth) have typical HERO SSDs of 3' to 12'.
PRESS RELEASE July 24, 2012
Download PDF English
Download PDF Arabic
U.S. Department of Defense Determines RuBee (IEEE 1902.1) Wireless Has a HERO, Zero Safe Separation Distance (SSD) from Fused Ordnance
The U.S. Navy released a test report that shows RuBee Auto-ID wireless tags, handhelds and base stations have a zero (0) Safe Separation Distance (SSD) on HERO SAFE and HERO UNSAFE Ordnance. Other wireless technologies (RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth) have typical HERO SSDs of 3' to 12'.
STRATHAM, N.H., July 24, 2012 -- Visible Assets, today announced that RuBee (IEEE 1902.1) is the first wireless technology to be tested by the U.S. Department of The Navy with a zero Safe Separation Distance (SSD) for tags, portable handheld readers and base stations for HERO SAFE and HERO UNSAFE ordnance. The Report 8020/SER Q52/2250, "Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) Safety Evaluation Test Report for Near-Touching Use of RuBee (IEEE 1902.1) Base Stations with Ranger Antenna, 1T Tags, and pRap Readers in Proximity To HERO UNSAFE /UNRELIABLE Ordnance" dated May 18th 2012, is based on MIL STD 464C. Other wireless RF based technologies (RFID, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, UWB) have tags under the HERO test program that may be safely applied to ordnance, but the readers or integrators typically have SSDs of from 3' to 12'. Therefore, reading these RF based tags may become a risk near HERO UNSAFE ordnance, while RuBee tags can be safely read.
"This is a landmark result for RuBee and IEEE 1902.1, and is the first Auto-ID technology where both tags and readers have obtained a zero SSD under HERO tests for fused ordnance," said John K. Stevens, CEO of Visible Assets. "This means RuBee can safely provide real-time audits, accountability, pedigree, diagnostics and security to a wide variety of explosive devices, ordnance and munitions, stored in the many thousands of sensitive item stores and facilities around the world. RuBee wireless tags can be installed directly on or built into the devices and can be combined with a variety of sensors to help diagnose and manage the maintenance schedule, use and decommissioning of the devices. HERO zero SSD opens up many new important sensitive item Visibility opportunities for RuBee system and will help ensure the safety, control, visibility, and security of all sensitive items."
"HERO tests by the U.S. Navy is one of the most demanding and important RF safety programs in the world. Because RuBee is magnetic, not RF, the Navy had to develop a new magnetic safety test protocol for fused ordnance under MIL STD 464C," said Jason August, Chief Technology Officer of Visible Assets. "These test protocols have all been based on worst possible case scenarios with large safety factors. The outcome that RuBee tags, readers and base stations can be safely used on HERO SAFE ordnance, enables our existing military customers to expand their use of RuBee to all sensitive item stores."
RuBee is based on magnetic energy, not RF energy. RuBee works on and inside steel, as well as under water. RuBee provides asset security and visibility in harsh environments where RFID, WiFi and ZigBee are unable to operate. Visible sells several integrated network, Three-Layer Security products, including Asset 20/20 and Armory 20/20™. Armory 20/20 provides real-time secure, fully automated weapons inventory, check in/out and ultra sensitive, exit/entry management. RuBee Three-Layer networks are all based on embedded Oracle software systems, and provide high security visibility, with no significant eavesdropping, tempest or target risk. RuBee is the only wireless asset visibility technology that is approved for use in secure areas within the United States. RuBee has no known intrinsic safety risks and is approved for use by the U.S. government for safe use on high explosives.
To view the full Navy HERO report, visit: (www.rubee.com/HERO).
About Visible
Visible Assets, Inc. is a privately held U.S. company, based in Stratham, N.H. Visible designs, manufactures and sells RuBee wireless real-time asset security and visibility networks based on the IEEE 1902.1 standard. Visible Assets provides its integrated visibility solutions though partners, including Epson/Seiko, National Oilwell Varco, Oracle, Marasel, SMi Group, Spearpoint, and Dasco Data. RuBee Visibility Networks are installed and working in numerous facilities and government sites throughout the world. Visible Assets, Inc. has an active RuBee licensing program. For more information, visit www.rubee.com.
Contact:
Jeremy Douglas
Catapult PR-IR
303-581-7760 ext. 16
jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com
August 17th, 2011
Five-Year DoE Auto-ID and RFID Study Concludes RuBee Wireless System is Only Acceptable Safe, Secure and Accurate Auto-ID Asset Visibility Solution in Harsh, High Explosive Environments
PRESS RELEASE August 17, 2011
Download PDF English
Download PDF Arabic
RuBee (IEEE 1902.1) Identified in Pantex Study as Only Acceptable Technology
for Secure Visibility and Management of High Valued Assets
Five-Year DoE Auto-ID and RFID Study Concludes RuBee Wireless System is Safe, Secure and Accurate Auto-ID Asset Visibility Solution in Harsh, High Explosive Environments
Stratham, N.H. (August 17, 2011) – Visible Assets, today announced that RuBee (IEEE 1902.1) wireless technology has been identified by Pantex, as the only Auto-ID technology that addresses all of the key risks necessary to provide a viable foundation for an automated material management system. Pantex, the Department of Energy (DoE) plant charged with maintaining the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, released the results of a comprehensive five-year independent study that reviewed Auto-ID technologies for use in secure material and asset management at DoE facilities across the USA.
Presented on July 19th at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management Annual Meeting, the study reviewed wireless security risks within classified facilities, intrinsic safety risks (accidental detonation of explosives) and accuracy of reads and writes in harsh environments for a wide variety of wireless radio frequency visibility technologies (RFID, Wi-Fi, RTLS, ZigBee and RuBee). RuBee was found to have no security risks, no intrinsic safety risks for high explosives, and had 100-percent read rates in harsh environments near and on steel and water.
“RuBee wireless systems enable us to manage critical inventory and production items within and across our facilities,” said Leesa Duckworth, program manager, non-proliferation scientist, at B&W Pantex, and author of the paper. “Automation and removal of human error is critical, not just to reduce costs and improve safety but to guarantee we have maximized asset security.” “We began a thorough evaluation of all ‘Auto-ID’ technologies that showed promise to move us in the ‘full automation’ direction – including RuBee, RFID, optical tracking, RTLS and many other passive and active RF tracking technologies. The environment at Pantex has unique security and safety requirements. RuBee met these requirements, in addition to providing high performance around metal and liquids, which were problems for RF-based technologies.”
“The DoE Pantex lab is one of the most demanding, highest security facilities in the world, given their vital role in assembling and disassembling nuclear weapons,” said John K. Stevens, CEO of Visible Assets. “This is far more than just a materials asset management study, it also validates RuBee’s unique Three-Layer Security. RuBee Three-Layer Security enhances existing Video, Alarms, Access Control (VAAC) security systems and adds a new Return on Investment to the equation through the cost reductions and error reductions seen with full automation. I am very pleased that the DoE has taken such a rigorous scientific approach to this study, and the outcome demonstrates that RuBee improves security, safety and accurately manages real-time mission critical asset visibility”
RuBee is based on magnetic energy, not RF energy. RuBee works on and inside steel, as well as under water. RuBee provides asset security and visibility in harsh environments where RFID, Wi-Fi and ZigBee are unable to operate. Visible sells several integrated network Three-Layer Security products, including Armory 20/20™, Asset 20/20™ and Server 20/20™. Armory 20/20 provides real-time secure, fully automated weapons inventory, check in/out and ultra sensitive, exit/entry management. RuBee Three-Layer networks are all based on embedded Oracle software systems, and provide high security visibility, with no significant eavesdropping, tempest or target risk. RuBee is the only wireless asset visibility technology that is approved for use in secure areas within the United States. RuBee has no known intrinsic safety risks and is approved for use by the U.S. government for safe use on high explosives.
To view the full Pantex report, visit: www.rubee.com/pantex
To view Pantex Press release, visit: www.rubee.com/pantexPR
About Visible
Visible Assets, Inc. is a privately held U.S. company, based in Stratham, N.H. Visible designs, manufactures and sells RuBee wireless real-time asset security and visibility networks based on the IEEE 1902.1 standard. Visible Assets provides its integrated visibility solutions though partners, including Epson/Seiko, National Oilwell Varco, Laser Devices, Azimuth, Marasel, Spearpoint, Dasco Data and Oracle. RuBee Visibility Networks are installed and working in numerous facilities and government sites throughout the world. Visible Assets, Inc. has an active RuBee licensing program. For more information, visit www.rubee.com.
Media Contacts:
Dave Bowker or Britt Gottlieb
Schwartz Communications
+1.781.684.0770
VisibleAssets@schwartzcomm.com
Company Contacts:
John K. Stevens - CEO
john@visible-assets.com
+1.603.418.8721
Craig Weich – Executive VP
craig@visible-assets.com
+1.603.601.0333
August, 17th 2011
Automated RuBee system “sees” material movement in real-time.
Download PDF English
Download PDF Arabic
Contact:
Greg Cunningham
806-477-5140
B&W Pantex Demonstrates Magnetic Auto-ID Technology
to Track Material in Secure Areas of Plant
Automated system “sees” material movement
When it comes to tracking the nearly 50,000 custom tools, 11,500 shipping containers and millions of records, parts and components at Pantex, barcodes and physical inventories may be making way for a more modern way to manage material.
B&W Pantex recently piloted magnetic auto-ID technology to identify, track and inventory the plant’s material assets in even the most restrictive security areas. The technology demonstrates the ability to remove direct human interaction from the great majority of the asset management process, improving accuracy and efficiency.
The project, called the Advanced Inventory and Materials Management (AIMM) pilot, launched in February following an extensive evaluation and intense collaboration with the vendor. The AIMM pilot project concluded in May.
When RuBeeTM tags were affixed to such items as tooling and chemicals, RuBee antennas enabled users to view their movement on a computer screen, via Oracle software, as they migrated throughout the pilot test areas. The antennas provide the greatest degree of weapons compatibility available today while ensuring transmitted information is controlled within the bounds of Pantex facilities.
“My experience is that most people think the labs are noted for innovation, but I feel the plants have a lot to offer,” said John Doggett, Pantex Site Office authorization official. “I believe our ability to demonstrate the use of RuBee shows innovative thought by Pantexans, but also a dedication to the overall improvement of operations locally that can have a broader impact to improve operations in the enterprise.”
Pantex is the first site in the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration enterprise to install RuBee technology in a secure area, called the Limited Area. Because of success in the first two pilot phases, Pantex was also the first to install and evaluate RuBee in a Material Access Area – the most restrictive security area.
Project findings are being published in the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management Conference Journal, and the project plan has been shared with other facilities in the nuclear security enterprise eager to find a materials management solution.
“Pursuing RuBee exemplifies Pantex’s pursuit of becoming a High Reliability Organization,” said John Woolery, B&W Pantex general manager. “We strive to be an HRO by purposefully and continuously looking for ways to improve our systems and processes through redesign or deployment of new technologies and capabilities. We are constantly striving to improve our accuracy, efficiency and reliability.”
“Pantex, like other facilities across the nuclear security enterprise, has been searching for better solutions to the issues with property management for years,” said Leesa Duckworth, AIMM project lead for Pantex. “The problem has been finding a solution that could pass the high levels of scrutiny required for operation in Pantex work environments.”
RuBee is now employed at the Pantex Armory for gun issuance and receipt, and a related RuBee project is under way to demonstrate a fully synchronized RuBee-enabled building at the Pantex Medical Facility. Future applications could include environmental and radiological sampling and special nuclear materials container management.
Results of the RuBee magnetic auto-ID technology pilot at Pantex are available at
www.rubee.com/pantex
******
B&W Pantex manages and operates the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. B&W Pantex is also the proud recipient of the DOE’s Voluntary Protection Program STAR status for safety excellence. The company was also named one of America’s safest companies by Occupational Hazards magazine and has received numerous awards from the National Safety Council.
October 5th, 2010
Visible Assets, Inc. to Supply NSWC with Secure RuBee, IEEE 1902.1 Wireless Weapon Shot Counting Tags, That Provide Preventive Maintenance, Diagnostics and Optimized Health Care for Combat Carbines.
Visible Assets, Inc. is Awarded a $5 Million, Five Year Contract For Weapon Shot Counters From Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division.
Visible Assets, Inc. to Supply NSWC with Secure RuBee, IEEE 1902.1 Wireless Weapon Shot Counting Tags, That Provide Preventive Maintenance, Diagnostics and Optimized Health Care for Combat Carbines.
STRATHAM, NH, October 5, 2010 Visible Assets, Inc.(VISIBLE™) today announced that it has been awarded a five (5) year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract for a maximum of US$5 million for RuBee™ shot counter tags. The contract was awarded based on Request For Proposal N0016410RJN87 “Weapon Shot Counter” (WSC), from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, to procure Weapon Shot Counter for the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR)/MK16/MK 17 rifle and M4. The WSC are intended to provide overall weapon maintenance and the prevention of catastrophic weapon failures. An initial $637,563.00 Purchase Order was placed for RuBee Ruggedized HandHeld Readers and RuBee shot counter tags.
VISIBLE has developed a family of shot counter tags for a variety of weapons. These tags include highly secure two way wireless RuBee data links, as well as, custom sensors and high gain, dynamic amplification CMOS technology. The tags are based on several custom integrated circuits designed by VISIBLE. These unique chip designs help reduce power consumption so the tags have a minimum five year battery life to a maximum fifteen year battery life in normal field use, with conventional coin size Li batteries. Long battery life wireless tags make it possible to permanently seal tags into a MIL-STD-810G rugged package. The advanced state machine CPU contained in the tags is capable of providing complex real-time signal processing, waveform analysis, round interval statistics and a programmable predictor of barrel wear based on barrel temperature histograms. Independent tests of the VISIBLE shot counter have consistently shown a 99% or better accuracy in basic shot counting mode.
John K. Stevens, CEO of Visible Assets, Inc. said, “This award represents an important milestone for our company. We have made a major investment in this technology and have worked hard over last several years to meet the high standards set by the US military for a combat based weapon shot counter. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the experts at Crane as a result of the award. This award will help optimize our current weapon shot counting tag with many additional battlefield features so we can improve safety, reliability and performance of mission critical weapons used by our troops”
The same shot counting tags also support full weapon visibility networks within any armory. Armory 20/20™, the VISIBLE automated armory system, provides real-time secure, fully automated weapons inventory, weapons issuance check in/out with full exit/entry management and weapons pedigree. RuBee armory networks provide high security with no significant eavesdropping, tempest, or target risk. RuBee is the only wireless technology that has been approved for use in secure areas within the United States. VISIBLE offers a number of automated armory visibility products and systems (www.rubee.com/Armory), including Smart Storage Racks, GateGuard™, DoorGuard™ and Oracle based software application modules to manage multiple site armories. Armory 20/20 RuBee wireless networks have been installed and are in routine use in many US armories for over two years.
For further information on RuBee and Visible Assets, visit www.rubee.com
About Visible Assets, Inc.
Visible Assets, Inc. is a privately held US company, based in Stratham, New Hampshire. Visible Assets designs, manufactures, and supports RuBee wireless real-time asset visibility solutions and networks based on the IEEE 1902.1 standard. Visible Assets provides integrated visibility solutions for a variety of markets though RuBee application partners, including Epson and National Oilwell Varco, and Oracle. RuBee Visibility Networks are installed and working in numerous commercial facilities and government sites. Visible Assets, Inc. has an active RuBee licensing program.
Company Contacts:
John Stevens, CEO
603-418-8721
john@rubee.com
Craig Weich, Executive VP
603-601-0333
cweich@rubee.com
.