By Shelia Watson
Contributing Writer

The Federal Communications Commission has granted approval of a data transfer system developed by Navigational Sciences Inc., a Charleston-based wireless tracking and data communications company.

The Impulse 1.0 system allows utility companies to monitor, read and report information on meters from remote locations rather than have utility personnel travel to the premises to read the meters.

FCC approval, granted in August, will enable Navigational Sciences to start filling a backlog of orders worth $15.5 million.

“We couldn’t sell those units until we had FCC approval,” said Eric Dobson, chief scientific officer, adding that the company went through testing for about six weeks before final approval was granted.

“There’s a lot of research and development that goes into a product like this,” he said. “But in order to deploy it, we had to have FCC approval. There’s a strong ethic in the wireless community about not doing harm to others’ wireless processes. The FCC brings in the assurance that we’re not interfering with other processes and devices.”

Purchase orders began coming in during the first quarter of the year, Dobson said, and the company started filling the orders this month.

“The customers have been waiting patiently. But they know how advanced this technology is, so we think it was worth the wait for them,” he said.

In developing the Impulse system, Navigational Sciences is tapping into a large nationwide market. A company release noted that there are more than 55,000 water districts in the United States serving more than 83 million customers. Automated meter-reading systems are currently in use by only 17% of water companies; 95% of water districts report plans to invest in automated systems in the near future.

The company was able to demonstrate the Impulse system to the customers in a pre-production “beta” version, Dobson said.

The Impulse system uses new wireless communications technology to transmit data more efficiently and securely in several applications. Navigational Sciences adapted the technology for use in reading utility meters from remote locations.

“We’ve developed a system that eliminates the need for human involvement,” said Bill Crowe, Navigational Science’s chief operating officer. “Instead of worrying about whether your dog will attack the technician trying to enter the yard to read a meter, we can monitor a water meter from miles away.”

Remote meter-reading technology has already been implemented on a limited scale. However, Crowe said the new technology developed for the Impulse system will ensure greater accuracy and security in the transfer of data than was available in previous systems; the potential savings in labor could be significant.

“We’re thrilled to be able to deliver this highly anticipated system,” he said. “Impulse 1.0 will streamline and greatly simplify the monitoring process for many utilities, leading to greater efficiency and, we hope, reduction in costs for the consumer.”

Navigational Sciences is developing other uses for the technology, including applications for the electric and gas industries.

Founded in 2000, Navigational Sciences uses emerging technologies to develop data communications solutions to monitor security and operational information across several business and service applications. The company’s core products help businesses track and monitor their large physical assets such as cargo containers, trucks and trailers.

Many of the company’s methodologies and techniques were developed through work funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security under its research program to increase monitoring security and visibility of shipping containers.

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