Mobilaris Companion combines IoT technologies, such as 5G and ultra-wideband (UWB), to increase workforce safety. To address and improve workforce safety at industrial sites such as production floors, which can be dangerous work environments, the combination of 5G and cellular IoT technology is designed to bring industries "closer to a zero vision of workforce-related accidents".
The Mobilaris 5G-ready device collects information and high-accuracy positioning data in real time, and offers proximity triggers and collision alerts using sensors, monitoring and real-time positioning of people, vehicles and moving assets. Worn by individual workers, the small device is equipped with sensors, enabling the user to react instantly if a dangerous situation occurs. It weighs less than a headlamp and has a built-in buzzer function for quick alerts.
The UWB chip allows high precision distance measurements and positional accuracy; it is specifically designed for heavy industry and can trigger local proximity warnings on every Companion or software application at the site. With four sensors, it automatically reacts to dangerous gas emissions, humidity levels, barometric pressure and temperature.
Its 3D accelerometer measures movement and velocity to protect people from sudden impact. The gyroscope works as a ‘man down' alert, indicating the user's orientation in real-time should they trip or fall.
Andreas Ericsson, CEO of Mobilaris Industrial Solutions, said: "We are excited to bring IoT industrial workforce safety to the market and utilise opportunities with Industry 4.0. It is an honour to collaborate with professional partners such as Ericsson and Sigma Connectivity. Together, we are developing a disruptive workforce safety offer that enables the zero-accident vision."
Ericsson's latest cellular IoT design has been applied in Mobilaris Companion. Its IoT platform, IoT Accelerator, is designed to enable cost-efficient, reliable and secure connectivity management and operations for any enterprise of any scale anywhere in the world. With the help of the design house Sigma Connectivity, Mobilaris has accelerated IoT Accelerator's time to market along with Ericsson's cellular IoT device reference design Ardesco. Ardesco has all the features needed to build any cellular IoT device and was used in Mobilaris Companion.
Kyle Okamoto, general manager at Ericsson IoT, said: "Our IoT business is about fostering an innovation ecosystem, bringing together partners and devices on our global platform to progress the industry. This work with Mobilaris demonstrates the power of collaboration to bring cellular IoT devices to the market that positively impact industries and people's safety."
