Lightricity, a UK-based firm, has created a Bluetooth LE tag that relies solely on indoor light energy, marking a significant stride in sustainable IoT asset tracking. This innovative device, named '4EverTrack micro,' curbs carbon emissions by more than half when compared to its battery-operated counterparts. The tag serves a broad spectrum of real-time location systems (RTLS), aligning seamlessly with all Bluetooth LE-centric indoor mapping and guidance services used in a multitude of venues including hospitals, retail complexes, airports, and exhibition spaces. In addition, the 4EverTrack micro tag is equipped with a temperature sensor, making it ideal for tasks that necessitate environmental supervision.
The heart of the 4EverTrack micro's processing prowess lies in Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52805 SoC's robust 64 MHz 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 processor, which oversees the analysis of location and sensor data. This data is then wirelessly transmitted to any Bluetooth gateway or a user's smartphone via the nRF52805 SoC-enabled Bluetooth LE connectivity. Designed with adaptability in mind, the tag can interface with any iOS/Android smartphone app or web platform. Lightricity offers an Android app and web dashboards that present all 4EverTrack micro data and payload information in real-time. The 4EverTrack micro tracker is incredibly compact and is energized by Lightricity’s proprietary photovoltaic (PV) cell, allowing it to function in lighting conditions ranging from a lowly 50 lux to bright ambient light levels of over 1000 lux. This eliminates the upkeep time and costs linked with battery recharge or replacement. The Nordic nRF52805 SoC's low power traits enable the 4EverTrack micro to function without a battery. Moreover, Lightricity opted for a Nordic solution owing to the comprehensive technical documentation, swift support from Nordic application engineers, and the wide reach of Nordic’s developer community.
