CSIRO

BLEAT System

As our built environment becomes sensor rich and automated in the pursuit of cost efficiency, it is now critical to have a technology that allows real time tracking of assets and resources to ensure our safety. Existing GPS tracking technology has high power demands and does not work in built up environments, inside buildings or underground. The CSIRO research team developed a way to leverage bluetooth low energy advertising packets to achieve room-level accuracy tracking in a low-power way. This algorithm, named BLEAT (Bluetooth Low Energy Asset Tracking), provides easily deployable, scalable, low cost, low maintenance and low power tracking of people and objects indoors. The range of devices in the BLEAT System network together to provide the future of safety, tracking and traceability. This creates more visible supply chains and worksites while enhancing human safety. The BLEAT programme and its network products commercialise and validate another world first technology for the CSIRO.

CDG Scope of Work

Industrial design, project management, new product development, prototype manufacturing management, mass production supply chain management.

About CSIRO

CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) has advanced Australia with a range of inventions and innovations that have had significant positive impact on the lives of people around the world. CSIRO works with industry, government and the research community to turn science into solutions to address Australia's greatest challenges, including food security and quality; sustainable energy and resources; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; future industries; and a secure Australia and region. Secondary functions include international scientific liaison, training of research workers, publication of research results, technology transfer of other research, provision of scientific services and dissemination of information about science and technology.

BLEAT System Network

BLEATags - Attached mobile infrastructure such as factory assets, machinery or construction site materials. 
BLEAcons - Fixed throughout a management environment such as a factory or construction site. 
BLECards - Wearable employee tracking, access and alarm cards. 

BLEATags and BLECards communicate to the BLEAcons via proprietary BLE encoded and encrypted packets.  The BLEAcons relay this data to gateways via LoRaWAN (a Long-Range Wireless Area Network standard).  Finally, the gateway forwards the packet to the cloud enabling near real-time location and state of the tracked object for analytics, alerting and reporting.

Construction Site Case Study

BLEAT allows a builder and contractors to have unprecedented information on where resources are, their state and their utilisation in real time and over time.

BLEAT can offer dramatic productivity and site safety improvement (time lost locating objects and people), advanced health and safety (knowledge of people remaining in evacuations, real time alerting to staff and customers of location specific hazards), manage waste, reduce costs and provide previously unattainable knowledge of infrastructure utilisation through analytics (which can be used for optimising, planning, maintenance, cleaning, building etc). 

Industrial Design

The form of the BLEAT product range communicates the systems technical, tactical and accurate nature. Crisp, clean and chamfered, this modern product language is sophisticated and tough. Exposed fastener lugs and mounting details in the base plates clearly inform the user how the product is to be orientated and affixed using either self adhesive pads, self tapping screws, Nails or zip ties. 

The light grey top half and dark charcoal base enclosures not only reduce the perceived volume of the product but they also help manage thermal conditions when exposed to the elements on a construction site. 

Environmental Considerations

The BLEAT System products are designed to withstand the rigours of harsh environments. As a result premium materials have been used throughout its construction. The products are UV stable, drop and impact tested as well is IP67 protected against water and dust ingress. At the end a BLEAT products service life, it has been designed to be disassembled into single material components for recycling. Internal electronics and batteries will need to be managed through normal e-waste channels.

BLECards are designed to seamlessly integrate with Staff Access Cards. Unlike a default staff card, the BLECard has an emergency button for distress or management interaction.