Active RFID asset tracking protection technology is of vital importance. There is no doubt that by tracking, monitoring and protecting assets and people, one can potentially create a more controlled environment in which day-to-day business processes will run more effectively. The technology gets smarter because both people and assets can be `tagged' and associated. If an authorised person moves a projector or breaks a seal on a container, the system knows that this is acceptable and simply updates the management information. If an unauthorised person tampers with the projector or the container, alarms will be set off and guards alerted. Knowing constantly where assets are and controlling their movement, reduces theft and loss.
As part of Wavetrend's strategy to form close links with world-class academic institutes, Wavetrend has announced a strategic relationship with Heriot Watt University. Edinburgh-based Heriot Watt is one of Britain's leading institutes for technology learning, with specialist research expertise in micro-engineering, embedded microwave antennas and electrical power. In close collaboration with the Technology Transfer Department, a number of projects in the field of active RFID are already well underway, with first commercial applications due to be announced later this year. Robert Goodfellow, technology transfer officer at Heriot Watt comments, "We are delighted to be working at the cutting edge of active RFID technology with an established leader in this field. We have already made progress on several applications and look forward to seeing these applied commercially."
In addition, Wavetrend has collaborated with Oakham School in Rutland on an electronics project, which has reached the finals of the prestigious national IKB Awards, sponsored by Brunel University to mark the bicentenary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's birth. Pupil, James Malin has used Wavetrend Active RFID tags embedded in watch transmitters for his innovative fire alarm project. The tags emit signals that are picked up by readers, precisely locating staff within office premises and alerting fire teams to their presence in the event of an emergency.
"A key aspect of our business is the ability to form close links with top-ranking academic institutes and to attract top candidates from universities. We see these relationships as being a perfect match in meeting our requirement," comments Chris Bishop, CEO of Wavetrend.
University installation success stories
In the education arena Wavetrend's prime site was a university in Staffordshire where high value AV equipment was monitored. The university had suffered consistent loss of over-head projectors installed in each of the lecture theatres. The combined replacement cost of the projectors was greater than the total cost of the system. Return on investment was evident when in early 2002 the system was put to the test just a few months after the installation was completed. During a weekday afternoon, when the lecture theatres were open but unused, thieves attempted to steal the projectors. An immediate alarm was raised and the theft was foiled. Although the thieves eluded the security guards, they left behind all their tools, giving the police the best fingerprint evidence to date, in addition to the guards' visual identification. No further attempts at theft have occurred since.
Wavetrend Accredited Channel Partner, Tanto Systems, has installed an Active RFID asset protection system in another UK university campus. Thames Valley University's Westel Campus was suffering significant losses of high value/high importance assets such as video projectors, flat panel displays and laptop computers. A network of Wavetrend L-RX201 readers was installed together with APS SmartTag software to monitor the movement of around 1000 IT assets. Fixed assets such as ceiling-mounted video projectors were fitted with L-TG800-MS motion sensing tags. Other assets were fitted with standard L-TG800 asset tags. The solution provides seamless and unobtrusive protection of assets in key areas of the campus.
For more information contact Bonita Read, Wavetrend, 011 462 2633, bonita.read@wavetrend.net, www.wavetrend.net
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