Wearable Personnel Tracker

The client approached Northern Hi-Tec with a concept specification for a personnel tracker based around a flexible board, using both GSM and GPS technologies.
The aim was to sell the product into the lone worker and child / vulnerable person tracking market.

The challenge was to make a product that was comfortable to wear, was discrete (/covert) and would provide good GPS and GSM coverage when worn close to the body. The unit also had to be completely waterproof, be chargeable without exposed contacts and have a useable duration of up to 12 hours.

Northern Hi-Tec's solution has provided a unique product in the marketplace, incorporating inductive charging to maintain the watertight flexible outer sleeve.
We have used Lithium Polymer battery technology, for the best capacity to weight ratio available on the market.

The GPS system has one of the quickest acquisition times available and a very compact, active GPS Antenna to save space.
A programmable GSM modem system was employed, combined with flexible in-house software, allowing easy variation of software for multiple client configurations of the product.

Services provided included:

Electronic Hardware Design incorporating both GSM and GPS Technologies
Embedded Modem Software Design and Implementation
Flexible PCB Layout
Prototype Production
Full Product Verification and Validation
Design to EMC and R&TTE Approval
Liaison with Clients' Industrial Design for Mechanical Constraints
Field Trial Testing and Evaluation
Functional Test Development
Full Scale Cell-Based Production
Full Supply Chain Management

Manufacturing facilities employed:

Surface Mount Assembly
Through Hole Assembly
Comprehensive Full Functional Testing
Full Product Build and Environmental Sealing into Enclosure

Northern Hi-Tec
Wasco House
Willow Lane
Lancaster
LA1 5NA
Tel: 01524 67833
Fax: 01524 67544
Email: enquiry@nht.co.uk