2023 is off to a great start for the team at Ubihere! The United States Air Force recently notified the company that it has secured 3 new SBIR Phase II awards, each totaling $1.25 million. These contracts, each being sponsored by the Air Force Sustainment Center, will be completed over the next 21 months. And with them, the company’s current Ubitrax tag technologies are about to undergo several new and highly advanced modifications!
For the first project, Ubihere will adapt its existing commercial Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) tag technology (currently in use at Dyess and Ellsworth Air Force Bases) to support on-board tag-level artificial intelligence software, a first-of-its-kind solution for asset tracking technology. Ubihere’s current AGE tracking solution is easy to install and allows for tracking of assets (primarily outdoors) across a localized footprint (approximately three square miles). For this project, Ubihere will redesign the tags to support on-tag artificial intelligence software that will enable self-localization and self-awareness. By incorporating innovative AI/ML software, developed by The Ohio State University, the self-aware Ubitrax tag will support tag-and-go operations in very complex indoor environments. Ubihere will complete testing of the system at the Air Logistic Complex at Oklahoma City’s Tinker AFB.
For the second project, Ubihere will provide the Air Force with a tracking solution that can be deployed around the world, as needed, with little to no additional infrastructure by integrating Ubitrax tags with cellular capabilities. Ubihere’s proposed solution will enable the Air Force to track valuable assets and equipment across various operational environments using existing cellular networks (both 4G/LTE and 5G).
For the third and final project, Ubihere will work with the Air Force Sustainment Center to identify tens of thousands of AGE and vehicle assets for which they desire location, movement history, and operational status monitoring across large geographical areas. This project has a more fluid goal, as specific requirements will be identified by the Air Force itself and incorporated into the redesign of the Ubitrax tag solution. This will allow for a more comprehensive and value-added capability for end-to-end logistics operations. Some known upgrades to the system will include a more robust indoor tracking capability for large spaces like Air Force hangars and warehouses; incorporating audio and visual alerts into the tag sensors; and integrating analog or digital sensors that monitor operational conditions such as air quality, humidity, radiation and temperature.
Ubihere is excited to work with the Air Force Sustainment Center on these new and highly innovative projects. Each project will modify and improve the inventory management, asset tracking, and environmental awareness capabilities of Ubihere’s existing Ubitrax technology and will allow for easy implementation of base-wide tracking. More importantly, the solutions developed have the potential to benefit many Department of Defense customers with asset and equipment tracking needs – from the relatively simple to the highly complex. With support from our partners, including Converge Technologies and The Ohio State University, and our funding partners, Converge Ventures, REV 1 Ventures, the Ohio Gateway Tech Fund and others, Ubihere is quickly becoming a national leader in the development of smart, affordable, and easy to deploy asset and inventory tracking technology.