Cambridge Design Partnership announces rugged GPS mapping device / two-way terrestrial and satellite wireless radio design

Cambridge Design Partnership announces rugged GPS mapping device / two-way terrestrial and satellite wireless radio design 

Cambridge Design Partnership design ultra-ruggedised handheld systems with multi-function capability 

CAMBRIDGE, UK, 17^th April 2012 – Innovative design and technology consultancy Cambridge design partnership today announced that it has extended its ruggedised handheld system portfolio to include a highly versatile rugged GPS device with integrated mapping capabilities and two way terrestrial and satellite wireless communication. Communicator has the potential to revolutionise the work of professionals who depend on mapping locations to save lives, such as the Police, Military and mountain rescue services, and is a cost effective solution that can integrate with a range of wireless data bearers, making it suitable for a variety of in-the-field applications.

Current commercial devices capable of displaying a live map are generally vehicle-mounted, making them impractical and bulky. Communicator is a durable hand held device perfectly suited to challenging conditions.

The unique thing about the Communicator system is that points, lines and areas of interest can be exchanged between devices and updated in real time to meet a wide range of operational requirements. In a search and rescue scenario this provides the flexibility to assign users a specific square on a mapped grid, making a search far more efficient and coordinated. Tiered tracking management via Communicator, laptops or PCs will make it easy to monitor a search and assign tasks and change search perimeters remotely.

Search and rescue cost the UK £62.26 million in 2009/2010. This included efforts of the Air Rescue Coordination Centre, the RAF Sea King Search and Rescue force and the RAF Mountain rescue service[1].  Innovation to cut costs in this area could be critical in these times of public spending cutbacks.

Communicator is also a highly versatile ruggedised two-way radio. It is able to work with multiple radio technologies, including GPRS, 3G, TETRA, LTE and Iridium. It will be capable of two way data messaging and emergency distress signaling, and features Bluetooth for connection to legacy modems.

Other features of the ultra ruggedised handset include a 3.5” high-res, high contrast LCD day / night screen, large button controls and touchscreen. All features that could be easily applied to other technologies in other hand held device applications such as mobile phones, which may well be necessary when considering that there were over 1 million mobile phone insurance claims in 2010 and 60% of those claims were for accidental damage (uSwitch, Feb 2011).

All of these factors make the Communicator design and technology a highly versatile tool in a wide range of situations for public safety, utility users and indeed consumers.

The design and technology of Communicator is highly adaptable to the specifications of different customer-groups. The software can be entirely adapted to make it compatible with any mapping system or android platform and bespoke products can be designed for different applications. This adaptability makes Communicator a very attractive product for OEMs looking to develop a two-way radio/navigation or ruggedised handheld devices with minimal time-to-market.

“Communicator builds on CDP’s experience in creating designs such as the ruggedised, award-winning Satmap 10, amongst many others. Next generation functionality, including powerful scripting software and two-way data communication, offers a new solution for a variety of industries and professions,” said Mike Beadman, partner, at Cambridge Design Partnership.

Cambridge Design Partnership is now looking for OEM-partners who might be interested in adopting this design.

About Cambridge Design Partnership LLP 

Cambridge Design Partnership is a consulting company that develops ‘first of a kind’ products in the medical, consumer and cleantech sectors.  We combine leading engineering talent with business acumen and a deep understanding of the technical and human needs that drive innovation.

Cambridge Design Partnership’s multi-disciplined experts and proven process will benefit any multinational or ambitious company aiming to maximise their return on investment in innovation.

Working as an integrated team, the company creates new products with a dynamic, flexible approach that leads to enduring client relationships, anchored by high quality work and excellent customer service.

Our diverse team of engineers, scientists and designers has grown rapidly to establish a world leading reputation for technical excellence, astute project management and, above all, thinking differently.