Lat-Lon, LLC was issued another patent on its self-contained wireless GPS tracking and monitoring device. The patent covers the innovative power system that allows the device to operate on solar power indefinitely. The tough, easy-to-install ‘bolt-n-go’ device will never have to be touched again to replace batteries, saving long-term operating costs.

Lat-Lon is unique in its ability to cost-effectively monitor non-powered assets such as rail cars, containers, barges, chassis, and trailers. By utilizing its aerospace experience and focusing its engineering talent to solve the problems associated with having no vehicle power available, Lat-Lon has produced the most capable system on the market. In addition to this newly issued patent, Lat-Lon has several other innovative patents pending.

These new technologies are being used in Lat-Lon’s latest Damage Prevention Unit (DPU). Dave Baker, Lat-Lon’s president, continues to develop products that are being requested by its customers and said, “The new DPU keeps us solidly in front of the competition, providing what our market wants – more data, over-the-air programming, more sensor support, improved impact sensing, and a lower overall cost of ownership.”

The DPU communicates through the digital Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network. GSM is the technology that underpins most of the world’s mobile phone networks. GSM has become the world’s fastest growing communications technology of all time and the leading global mobile standard, spanning 214 countries.

Today, GSM technology is in use by more than one in five of the world’s population – by June 2006 there were over 2 billion GSM subscribers, representing approximately 80% of the world’s cellular market. The growth of GSM continues unabated with almost 400 million new customers in the last 12 months (source: www.wirelessintelligence.com).

The DPU can monitor up to two temperature and two continuity switches to monitor doors, hatches, loaded/unloaded, or other events. The DPU can be ordered with an optional three-axis accelerometer to measure damage causing events.

All data can be viewed on the Lat-Lon website and customers now have the ability to build their own reports. Customers can be innovative by slicing and dicing the data to best fit their requirements. Mapping capabilities now include aerial maps as well as street-level data.