AeroAstro's SENS provides secure and reliable, real-time data transmissions from far-reaching locations, through the Internet to customers' operations centers. The new SENS service is currently available throughout the United States and Canada.

Plans are underway for ongoing deployment of the system worldwide. AeroAstro uses the existing Globalstar satellite constellation for SENS data relay, enabling seamless coverage for a price substantially lower than other currently available methods.

The SENS system uses Code Phase Division Multiple Access (CPDMA�), AeroAstro's patented spread spectrum technology, to enable access to remote sensor status information. Messages may either be sent at preset intervals or may be triggered by a specific event.

SENS is optimized for very large numbers of transmitters, each transmitting small pieces of data up to several times per day to the SENS Data Portal, AeroAstro's data management tool and customer interface for the SENS service.

AeroAstro's SENS Transmitter (STx) unit is a pager-size, one-way data transmitter that can be integrated with virtually any analog or digital sensor, including GPS, for use in countless applications that require sensed status or location data to be sent from remote sites and mobile assets.

"SENS is a remarkable breakthrough in global data communications, enabling a wide range of applications that would not be possible without the robust, reliable, and inexpensive capabilities it provides," said Dr. Rick Fleeter, AeroAstro's CEO.

"We believe that every remote asset, items as diverse as freight containers and rental cars, will soon be monitored and tracked cost effectively and conveniently. AeroAstro's patented CPDMA communications technology, built into our SENS architecture, tightly integrating wireless and internet technologies, enables and is now realizing that revolution in worldwide access to personal and business data."

SENS uses the Globalstar constellation of low-orbit satellites to relay data from the STx units. As the only data transmitter to use this satellite constellation and CPDMA technology, AeroAstro's STx offers better nationwide coverage, lower power consumption for longer battery life in untethered applications, and lower costs than any other data transmitter available � even compared to ground-based systems that use cellular technology.

The Globalstar system provides better coverage of the sky than other satellite systems, both in terms of number of visible satellites and angle above the horizon, reducing obscurations of the transmitters. By using the Globalstar constellation, SENS enables transmitted data to get through more quickly and reliably than other competing systems.

The SENS Data Portal, (accessed through sens.aeroastro.com) designed for easy use and effective display of data, is a key part of the AeroAstro SENS service. All data transmitted from a sensor and associated STx information are easily accessible through the SENS Data Portal, which also automatically routes the data to a value-added reseller (VAR) designated site.

The data may either be transmitted to the VARs for further manipulation or sent directly to end-users, including via e-mail and cell phone text messaging. AeroAstro can also implement custom data handling, analysis and display directly at the SENS Data Portal for specific customer applications. The simplicity and low cost of SENS encourages creativity in identifying potential applications.

AeroAstro has established a growing network of VARs to integrate the AeroAstro STx units with sensors, batteries, antennas, enclosures, and tools for displaying and distributing the data to create a variety of application-specific solutions.

The low-cost STx units require very low power, and in many applications, internal batteries provide a greater than five-year lifetime. Their straightforward design allows for easy integration.

STx units are now available from the following VARs, in a wide array of commercial applications:

Terra Sensors � Agriculture monitoring

AeroAstro continues to seek interested companies to expand its network of VARs in order to serve an even wider range of customers � companies interested in becoming a SENS VAR are encouraged to contact AeroAstro.

STx units are currently available for qualified VARs at a discount rate of $100 in quantities greater than 500, or $85 in quantities of 1000 or more. AeroAstro provides a complete SENS solution, packaging the STx units with subscriber service, including SENS Data Portal access, along with assistance for VARs in developing their application-specific units.

For more information on AeroAstro's value-added resellers, please visit their respective websites: Aerotec � www.aerotecusa.com AMCi � www.amc-wireless.com Guardian Mobility � www.guardianmobility.com Machined Innovations (MI) � www.machinedinnovations.com RHA Telecom � www.rhatelecom.co.uk Point Six � www.pointsix.com Synergetic Technologies � www.stationwatch.com SARS � www.sarsinc.com Terra Sensors � www.terrasensors.com

Related Links
AeroAstro
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

GPS NEWS

Communication Satellites Telling Us Where They Are
Paris (ESA) May 13, 2003
Communication satellites will eventually be able to tell us where they are using new on board GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers that are being developed in a project funded by ESA.