Twilio Programmable Asset Tracker

The first fully customizable asset tracking platform that works out of the box

Your average asset tracker of today is a fixed-functionality, monolithic closed system that is designed to please everyone, but really fits no one. Twilio has partnered with leading tracking device ODMs to combine off-the-shelf hardware with the flexibility of the proven Twilio device and cloud software platform.

Twilio Programmable Asset Tracker includes defined APIs and an open-sourced asset tracking application. The application can be easily customized using a high-level scripting language and then pushed to devices over the air.

For the first time, you have complete control of your business application, without being at the whim of your suppliers – or an expert in embedded systems.

An adaptable application that doesn’t require embedded expertise

Programmable Asset Tracker is built on a scripting language that is easily accessible to your cloud and Web developers.

Either leverage the out-of-the box functionality and parameterize it to your needs, or
Add custom functionality that exactly matches what your business – or your customers – need
Deploy updates over the air, whenever needed, without ever running the risk of bricking a device

Unmatched flexibility at a commodity price point

Full customizability doesn’t have to come at a premium price. Programmable Asset Tracker offers:

Reliable, low-cost commodity hardware, available directly from ODM
A simple per-device pricing model
Cellular data billed by the byte – no overage fees or breakage, ever

Powered by the proven Twilio IoT cloud platform

Our devices are built on Twilio’s proven IoT platforms that tackle the toughest challenges of connecting devices to the internet.

Twilio Electric Imp – tightly integrated hardware, OS, cloud, APIs, and device management capabilities – including failsafe OTA updates – to secure and manage your IoT solution throughout its lifecycle
Twilio Super SIM – a single SIM that gives access to 400 global networks, offers automatic failover, and comes with an easy-to-use Web Console as well as powerful APIs for SIM management

Features and Specifications:

Location Capabilities

Outdoor location tracking via GNSS & cellular trilateration
Indoor location tracking via WiFi/BLE passive signal
Multi-source precision location
Seamless transition between indoor and outdoor tracking
Theft Recovery Mode / Real-time tracking
Customizable tracking modes to optimize battery life

Sophisticated Alerts

Instant alerts & alarms
Impact, temperature, and tamper alerts
Configurable alert thresholds
Movement recognition
Low battery alert

Power Management

Intelligent operation with up to 4 years of battery life
Adaptive, configurable sleep/ report intervals and alerting
Shipping/standby mode

Hardware Features

LTE Cat-M/2G
BLE, WiFi (scanning)
Application coprocessor
Tamper sensor
Temperature sensor
Accelerometer
GNSS
3 field replaceable AA batteries, non hazardous material
IP67 enclosure
Magnetic, adhesive, or screw mount
Optional 128MB storage

Technical Specifications

Product Specifications

imp006 IoT Module (STM32F423ZHJ6I)

Remotely managed STM32F4 microcontroller with lifetime security maintenance
Tracking application in a high level scripting language
Fail-safe over-the-air updates of tracker OS and application
Sophisticated device- and cloud-based end-to-end architecture
Powerful fleet management tools that scale to millions of devices

GNSS²

Supported constellations: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou
Concurrent reception: 3 GNSS
Accuracy: to to 2.5m
Hot Start: from 1 second
Assisted Start: from 3 seconds
Cold Start: from 26 seconds
Features: Anti-spoofing, Anti-jam

Additional positioning²:

Via cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth LE multilateration (as available)

Connectivity

Technology: LTE Cat-M1, 2G (EGPRS/GSM/EDGE)
Bands
- LTE Cat-M1: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/ B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/ B25/B26/B27/B28/B66/ B85
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Power

Power Source: 3 L91 (Lithium/Iron Disulfide, Li/FeS2) AA cell form factor
Battery Life: up to <TBD> years
Configurable low battery warning threshold
Avg. Current consumption
- Standby: 15uA
- Active: TBD³
- Tracking: TBD³
- Connected via Cat-M: TBD³
- Connected via 2G: TBD³

WiFi/BLE active: TBD³

WiFi

Frequency: 2.4ghz
Antenna: Internal
Bandwidth 20 MHz & 40 MHz
Listen only scan
Stand-alone 160Mhz 32-bit WiFi Processor, configurable OTA

Sensors

Accelerometer
- Alert modes: Free fall & Motion
- Sensitivity: ≥ 1mg
Temperature
- Accuracy: 1degC

Bluetooth

Standard: Bluetooth® 5 (LE)
Advertising extensions
Multiple advertisement se

Physical Characteristics

Dimensions:
- 81mm x 66mm x 33mm
- Approximately 3-3/16” x 2-5/8” x 1-5/16”
- See the mechanical dimensions
RoHs compliant: TBD
FCC ID: TBD
Mounting options:
- Magnetic
- Screw attach
- Adhesive bond
Environmental protection: IP67
Operating Temperature: -30 to +60℃

Note:

¹ Theoretical max of the modem and may not be supported by radio reception or cellular tower bandwidth.

² Positioning accuracy is highly dependent on a number of factors, including operating environment, signal reception, and others

³ Currently evaluating

“

"Twilio’s programmable asset tracking solution toolkit lets us deliver a unique solution to each of our customers without requiring deep expertise in embedded systems, resulting in a better and more reliable tracking experience.”

GABRIEL WEEKS

PRESIDENT

Join the Twilio Programmable Asset Tracker Beta Program for full access

Frequently Asked Questions

What is asset tracking?

A system of hardware, software, and network technologies which used to track and report the location of physical assets (and often their conditions) to a remote server. Asset tracking applications utilize location and sensor data to verify asset location, to improve business operations and efficiency, and deliver better customer experience.

What assets can I track?

With our Programmable Asset Tracker you can track anything to which you attach a tracking device and which travels through areas supporting wireless connectivity, such as cellular. For device physical dimensions and environmental robustness see the device specifications.

Where can I track assets?

Assets can be tracked globally, subject to cellular network coverage, and both outdoors via Satellite based GNSS and indoors via WiFi based locationing. Additional locationing is supported by BLE beaconing. See Twilio Super SIM available networks for list of countries where Twilio’s Programmable Asset Tracker currently has cellular coverage.

How often do I get the location of my asset?

You are in control of when reporting happens. This can be a fixed period but increasingly is done based on the specific requirements of the use case, for example based on specific motion patterns or shock, change of location (geofencing), environmental parameters such as temperature, or other events. The triggers for reporting are configurable remotely so that the behavior can be adjusted over time. Reporting can be frequent – for example continuous location tracking every five seconds , or infrequent to preserve battery life – for example, only when a critical event occurs such as theft. Stored device last location and data is available from our servers for a configurable length of time.

How long will my asset tracker battery last?

The Programmable Asset Tracker is optimized for long battery life with low power standby, quick connections and location fixes, rapid return to a low power standby state,adequate battery capacity, and intelligent reporting. The battery life is application dependent (i.e. how often connections happen and how much data is being transferred) but can be up to several years of operation. The device can detect when its battery is low, warn its owner and elect to change its behavior to preserve its battery.

Can I change the way the asset tracker works?

Yes! The Programmable Asset Tracker is powered by an open source application in a high level scripting language and you can easily change it to suit your needs - this is a unique benefit of the solution. With the push of a button the updated application can then be deployed remotely (over the air) to your devices, groups of devices, or a single device. We also provide pre-built functionality and software support to help you get to a fully optimized solution quickly.

How does my tracker integrate with the cloud and what is the data format?

The reference tracker application uses a pre-defined secure REST API and JSON data model. This can be adapted to your needs - you can change and extend the data model as well as the API integration. We provide pre-built libraries for common cloud platforms such as Azure, Google, AWS, IoT and more or you can integrate the tracker with your custom REST or MQTT APIs.

What is a customizable asset tracker?

A customizable asset tracker is an asset tracker whose software (firmware) and hardware can be modified. Possible modifications go beyond changing parameters of otherwise pre-set software, and instead include the ability to push firmware updates over-the-air, as well as to make hardware modifications.

Twilio Programmable

Asset Tracker