See.Sense launches “world first” in bicycle tracking and protection

See.Sense has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new AIR device.

It lasts three months on a single charge, whilst giving riders the ability to quickly and accurately locate their bike using their Android or iOS smartphone.

“AIR is the first dedicated bike tracking device to be built on the new Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) low power wide area network (LPWAN),” said a statement. “LPWA was the missing link in creating a truly effective bike tracking device; under LPWA, See.Sense AIR can connect wider and deeper across the network for a fraction of the power required under the old technology.

“This means a properly effective bike tracker is now viable for the very first time. AIR’s coverage is powered by the Vodafone NB-IoT network, which is launching in Europe in early 2020 and into the USA later in the year; See.Sense Kickstarter backers will be the first to experience AIR across these territories. The device was validated by early access to the Vodafone IoT lab in Newbury, enabling See.Sense to develop against the new NB-IoT standard before the network is fully rolled out.”

Philip McAleese, CEO of See.Sense, said: “We’re totally fed up with bike vandalism and theft; even the best locks and chains can’t stop a bike being damaged or stolen. Our See.Sense lights brought a new solution to an old problem through technology and innovation and we always wanted to do the same in the bicycle security space. Now is the perfect time.”

McAleese continued: “AIR was developed after listening to what our cycling community wanted. It’s a smart device, reacting automatically to its situation. If the bike is moved or tampered with, AIR will sound an alarm and send an SMS to the rider; we call this “Fight Mode”.

“If the bike is stolen, AIR will detect this, switching in to “Flight” setting, rapidly transmitting high-powered tracking signals to allow the owner to quickly and accurately locate their bike to the nearest couple of metres. This tracking information can then be passed to local police increasing the chances of recovery. We believe it’s a game-changer.”

See.Sense’s R&D process involved consultation with antenna design specialists responsible for several generations of the market-leading smartphone. AIR weighs around 80g and is a low-profile device at around half the size of a deck of cards. It fits securely under any bike’s seat or bottle cage, See.Sense has said, locating the bike on the network, wherever it may be. After a quick set-up out of the box, there’s no further input required from the rider until the next battery charge.

AIR will also identify if the bike’s been involved in a crash and sends an SMS with the precise location to the rider’s assigned contact. The device constantly and accurately monitors the cyclist’s experience on their ride, so that aggregated and depersonalised ride insights can be shared with partners to improve conditions for cycling. See.Sense has already worked on Ride Insights with cities including London, Manchester, Dublin and Antwerp.

See.Sense AIR went live on Kickstarter from 19th November and will close on 15th December. Earlybird backers will be able to take advantage of a pre-release discounted price of £74 (38% off RRP). As a Kickstarter exclusive, each individual AIR purchase will come with two years free connection for the device, with a cost thereafter of £12 per year.

Backers can secure their pledge for the campaign here.