DoD Selects Semtech, Ripl for 3D Asset Tracking

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is tasked with the enduring mission to provide credible military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our nation. Its focus rings as true today as when Harry S. Truman founded the DoD, but how it is accomplished today has a bit of a different aesthetic.

Semtech Corporation announced the U.S. DoD selected Ripl Networks to deploy an IP mesh, 3D tracking solution for foreign guest and fleet assets at naval ports pairing Semtech’s LoRa devices over Ripl’s MLMesh system.

“Ripl lets Tiny-Edge computers talk IP creating a long distance, wire-free extension of the IP WAN,” said Kerry Shih, CEO of Ripl Networks. “LoRa devices’ proven distance and low power enables Ripl to offer an IP fabric up to 20km from node to node with a battery life up to 10 years.”

The Semtech, Ripl deployment empower the ability for low power devices to communicate over long distance with accurate 3D location tracking sans cellular towers or GPS. The first deployment is the Port of Hueneme, the only deep water port between the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles, and based on this proof of concept, the expectation is to see further investment in IoT technologies.

“Semtech’s LoRa platform enables the rapid and scalable deployment of military-grade applications, such as Ripl Networks’ asset tracking solution,” said Marc Pegulu, Vice President of IoT Product Marketing for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “We are pleased to assist the U.S. Department of Defense in its efforts to monitor and secure critical American assets.”