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Bike security system uses Nordic SoC for Bluetooth LE Direction finding with the Apple Find My app
12
Dec
2022
2022
Oslo, Norway
Knog Scout employs Nordic nRF52832 SoC to help riders locate their bike as part of the Apple Find My network
A new wireless bike security solution developed by Australia-based company, Knog, gives riders peace of mind when leaving their bike unattended. The ‘Scout Bike Alarm & Finder’ system works with the Apple Find My™ network, comprising hundreds of millions of Apple devices around the world.
Once the lightweight (25 g) and IP67-rated waterproof device has been discreetly attached to a bike frame via water bottle cage mounts using tamper-proof security screws, users can configure and arm/disarm Scout either on the device itself or via the associated ‘Knog’ app on their iOS device using the Nordic nRF52832 SoC-enabled Bluetooth® LE connectivity. The Knog app also provides the user with a simple method to update the Scout firmware over-the-air using Bluetooth LE. Once armed, any movement of the bike triggers an “impossible-to-ignore” alarm of 85 decibels, claims the company, before a text alert is sent to the user.
The local and timely support offered by the Nordic team was important to the development process
Malcolm McKechnie, Knog
Apple Find My compatible
Once notified, the user can take action to recover their bike by tracking its location through the private and secure Apple Find My network using the Apple Find My app on their iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. The integrated Nordic nRF52832 SoC supports Bluetooth 5.3 with a maximum transmit power of 4 dBm, which meets the requirements of the Apple Find My network.
The nRF52832 SoC’s 64 MHz Arm® Cortex® M4 processor with floating point unit (FPU) performs the core processing for Scout Bike Alarm & Finder, enabling the device’s built-in motion sensor to monitor the status of the bike in near real time and provide its bike alarm functionality.
Nordic’s ‘Apple Find My network compatible Software Development Kit (SDK)’ enabled the developers to easily design the Find My network-capable Bluetooth LE device and maximize battery performance. As a result, Scout achieves up to six months of battery life prior to recharge of its integrated Li-Po battery.
Devices that support the Find My network send out a secure Bluetooth LE signal so nearby Apple devices in the network can detect it and report its approximate location to owners. These devices send the location of the hardware to iCloud for the device to be located on the map in the Find My app.
Exceptional RF performance
“The nRF52832 SoC’s compact size, low power modes, CPU capability, RF performance, and the high level integration of the required peripherals, were all important features that aided our decision to use the Nordic solution,” says Malcolm McKechnie, COO, Knog. “Support with validated libraries for the Find My solution, and use of the Zephyr RTOS with its selection of trusted libraries, was a key selection criteria as well.
“In addition, the local and timely support offered by the Nordic team was important to the development process.”
