The start
The Smart Label journey started 4 years ago. The idea of the Smart Label comes from Bayer AG, specifically the Crop Science unit. Bayer approached SODAQ looking for a smart tracking device.
The challenge
- How can we make it as thin as possible?
- Can it be powered with a power source that doesn’t contain lithium so it is safe to take on a plane?
- How can we make sure the device does not communicate when in the air?
The solution
The Smart Label is an ultra-thin form factor device. We achieved this with the use of a printed battery.
In order to develop this power source without the use of lithium, we teamed up with a manufacturer of alkaline-printed batteries. This ensured that the device can be shipped overseas by plane.
The testing process
As part of the development, testing is a very important step. We learned how to deal with all the different mobile operators, frequency bands, border crossings, etc. Due to this testing, we can see that our Labels easily work for months in a row, sending 500 messages and crossing the oceans 6 times easily.