Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Visible Assets have co-developed a wireless asset tracking and identification technology designed to use electromagnetic fields for environments where traditional radio-frequency signals have difficulties.
The RuBee technology is based on the IEEE 1902.1 wireless protocol standard and is built to tag and track sensitive items such as fused munitions that contain wireless visibility tags connected to the network, Lockheed said Thursday.
Independent testing by the U.S. Navy also determined RuBee has no required safe separation distance, based on the Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance standard.
“Historically, tracking sensitive items has been a very manual process demanding hundreds of man hours in sometimes volatile explosive environments, ” said Dr. Robert Smith, vice president of C4ISR for Lockheed’s information systems and global solutions business.
“This unique system not only tags and tracks sensitive items and fused munitions at zero separation, it also incorporates advanced sensors that can be used for predictive maintenance of weapons.”
RuBee is also built to deliver secure data exchanges by using electromagnetic wavelengths.
Visible Assets CEO John Stevens said his company will work to perform audits, accountability, pedigree, diagnostics and security work on weapons stored in facilities worldwide.
“We look forward to many new worldwide opportunities with Lockheed Martin as a long-term partner, ” he added.
