The Track & Trust Mission in Southern Lebanon

We chose to track shipments of solar equipment for the Track & Trust Pilot. Destined for clinics and schools serving refugees in Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, these shipments were critical to the region. The area is home to over 300,000 Syrian refugees, according to UNHCR, and they all need medical care. Our partners, Aid Pioneers, Multi Aid Programs, and Al-Manhaj, collaborate to provide logistics, education, and medical care on the ground.

The clinics and schools require continuous a continuous electrical power supply. Due to Lebanon’s severe energy crisis, the public grid provides only about two hours of electricity per day, making the delivery of efficient healthcare services an immense challenge. In absence of a stable grid, most of the region’s essential services rely on generators, leaving the financial stability of operations at the whim of the ever-increasing price of diesel. Typical health clinics have thousands of dollars in monthly operating costs due to the need to purchase this fuel. To address this, Aid Pioneers is replacing diesel power systems with clean, abundant solar energy, one clinic at a time. By reliably shipping the equipment from Tripoli to Beqaa Valley, they achieve this goal with our help. Specifically the shipments we’ve tracked during the pilot contained all the equipment needed to outfit two clinics with enough solar power to cover all their needs. Aid Pioneers partner, Multi Aid Programs runs the clinics which received the solar and medical equipment we tracked.

Tracking Impact

Using Track & Trust, Aid Pioneers and their partners gained a clear view of what was happening to the parts in their shipment. As a result, they avoided extra trips, saving work and potential exposure to danger. Our team planned this deployment long before the recent conflict broke out, and our system performed well in the midst of a very difficult situation. Effective management of the challenges that arose was crucial to the success of the project.

During the shipments, ground personnel encountered outages of critical infrastructure, losing power and 4G connectivity several times. Fortunately, our Track & Trust mesh node infrastructure filled the gap, and our battery backup system enabled the system to run despite the power grid being down. The system’s design allowed it to handle such outages.

When 4G connectivity was lost, our mesh nodes cached delivery data until it could be passed between nodes. Utilizing technologies developed with our partner, Weaver Labs, we ensured the data was secure. Next, we used a satellite-enabled mesh node to post data that would have otherwise been lost via Iridium satellite uplink, developed by our partner Ororatech.

Aid Pioneers received hundreds of updates about the status of the goods from us. To ensure the integrity of the data, we cryptographically signed and anchored these updates to the ASI Alliance blockchain, making them highly trustworthy. This extra step was crucial to the project’s success. Together the result is highly trustable probabilistic 360° supply chain tracking.

Energy Independence One Clinic at a Time

Two major sets of shipments were completed under the watchful eye of Track & Trust, and a third set is currently being shipped to Lebanon. With 110 kWp of power, the solar systems make two entire clinics energy independent for the next twenty years. Additionally, we tracked a container of medical goods, which Al-Manhaj and Multi Aid Programs are using to save lives and provide medical treatment in Tripoli and the Beqaa Valley.

Track & Trust Proof of Resilience

The design of Track & Trust allows it to work in various contexts, providing resilience and probabilistic 360° supply chain tracking. Adaptable to different scenarios, our system is highly versatile. As we continue to develop and refine our system, we will meet the changing needs of our partners.

Next Steps

Following this piloting success, we will examine plans to make the system more user-friendly. Logistics organizations that could use more resilience in their field operations are also being contacted. If this series of blog posts has piqued your interest, please reach out, and we will schedule a call or demo.

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Orchestration Systems and CI/CD

To manage a large fleet of custom-built mesh node devices, we needed to develop advanced orchestration systems. Specifically, these systems enable us to provision and manage devices efficiently. Furthermore, we created a special approach to real-time monitoring of node health in the field. As a result, Track & Trust includes a full suite of dashboards that we can now use to monitor key performance indicators and display the outputs of our Probabilistic 360° Supply Chain Tracking product. In addition the orchestration systems we built are now fully operational and enable a highly flexible approach to updating and managing the software deployed to our hardware in the field.  Let’s jump into how we accomplished this feat.

The Addressing Challenge

Most people aren’t aware of this but devices on 4g connections don’t have static IP addresses. The IP addresses are assigned by the constantly shifting cellular towers the mobile device connects to. This is a real problem if you want to set up a software pipeline to trigger updates on mobile or iOT devices. In order to solve this we set up a virtual private network (VPN). This VPN is based on the open source wireguard protocol. Basically it’s a software defined network with tailscale under the hood. This approach means using a peer-to-peer mesh network to handle addressing devices inside our mesh network (pretty meta huh?). By routing our network traffic through a VPN we achieved much better security. On top of this we got static virtual addresses. This allowed us to name and manage the machines at the network level.

Push or Pull Orchestration Systems?

With the addressing problem solved another challenge popped up. If the machines are only online intermittently, a push approach to updates becomes impossible. This is because when you push the updates it might not reach all the machines. Some machines will inevitably be offline. The solution to this issue was to use a scheduled automation to automatically pull updates from an ansible automation engine. This, in turn, is controlled by a continuous integration and deployment system based around Semaphore. This enabled us to write code in an integrated development environment, push it to gitlab, and then trigger a build that the machines pick up. These builds, then deploy automatically on a daily basis whenever the machines happen to come online.

While we were still heavily in development, having this pipeline in place vastly increased our efficiency. We were able to write code and deploy to our custom made IoT hardware basically as though it was sitting in a cloud environment. On top of this we were able to designate groups of machines as dev machines and others as stage or prod machines.  This combination allowed us to develop and test both hardware and software independently of production and staging environments. It empowered us to rapidly iterate on the status quo without breaking hardware already in use in the field. Additionally the moment that we were ready to update mesh nodes in the field, we could earmark them to update themselves with well tested code the next time they came online.

Real-Time Monitoring

We needed advanced monitoring to easily update our software fleet. To achieve this, we set up an end-to-end observability pipeline using Fluentbit. This pipeline routed data in real-time from our mesh nodes into a database. Subsequently, we displayed real-time data in Grafana for management purposes. This approach enabled us to debug faster without having to SSH into a specific node to get its logs.

Finally, our Grafana dashboards showed us if all services were up and running, as well as key indicators of device health such as memory usage, temperature, and battery life. We could display logs in the timeframes we were interested in for the machine groups we wanted to monitor. In conclusion, this monitoring technology gave us valuable insights into ensuring our deployed hardware was working correctly and allowed us to fix issues quickly.

The Track & Trust dashboard with realtime information about each machine to optimize field operations

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Quick navigation links to the follow-up articles will be provided at the bottom of each article once the series is complete. For now, let’s jump in.

Establishing a foundation for the data authenticity chain

We designed our system to accommodate key requirements that establish a foundation for data authenticity. Specifically, our goal was to create a flexible system. This system can work with any logistics company, regardless of their internal processes. Notably, we achieved this flexibility, which is a key benefit of Track and Trust. This allows us to collaborate with a wide range of partners. Furthermore, logistics companies can increase the number of data points they receive about their shipments from the field by using Track & Trust.

This, in turn, enables them to achieve probabilistic 360° supply chain tracking. Our team structured the Track & Trust data to integrate easily into any logistics database. In particular, we use a series of linked cryptographic signatures and blockchain transactions to create this data authenticity chain. Finally, this chain of custody has a specific purpose. It ensures that we can authenticate and validate offline events once they reach our servers.

How does the data authenticity chain work?

TLDR: We leverage APIs to take inputs from our customers (Logistics Firms) as well as to give them valuable probabilistic 360° supply chain tracking data back. For demonstration purposes we have built a front-end website to make the system tangible but the magic happens via our swagger API.

The processes surrounding our data authenticity chain are pretty technical. To make it easier to understand we’ve formated the workflow into a sequence diagram that anyone can understand.

In summary, our data authenticity chain is simply a way of validating, recording and making messy data from the field trustworthy. Once that’s accomplished leverage our blockchain toolkit to make those data immutable and highly tamper resistant. It’s a chain of custody for that data that includes built-in proof of origin. This, in turn, enables traceability and trust beyond the current state of the art.

Our next post will cover all of the ways that we can view this information. We’ll also be covering the orchestration systems operating in the background that enable us to do over the air updates to the hardware.  There will be dashboards, monitoring and CI/CD galore for your perusal.

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The Challenges

What if 4G doesn’t work at all? Remote logistics operations or external circumstances like war or political instability can cause this issue. In such cases, tracking becomes a challenge, especially when the electrical power is unreliable. Consequently, we need to find alternative solutions. We spent quite some time solving these issues. Fortunately, we did indeed find a way. With funding from the European Space Agency, we built a Satellite-enabled Mesh Network. Some mesh nodes now have more super powers, enabling them to do everything they could before, and more. Moreover, these special satellite-enabled mesh nodes are more expensive, but they have a special trick up their sleeves. They can post data to our servers even without 4G internet. Here’s how it works.

Satellite-Enabled Mesh Nodes

The yellow box in the picture represents a satellite enabled mesh node. By adding an Iridium short burst data (SBD) transmitter to it, we gave it superpowers. Connecting this node to a mesh node via waterproof cables turns it into a super node. Our partners at OroraTech built this part of the system. Data arrives at this node using peer to peer communication over wifi-direct. The Iridium short burst data (SBD) Transmitter consumes information from cellmesh, finding out what data didn’t get posted to the internet via 4g. To make this work, a clear view of the sky is necessary. That’s why we waterproofed the enclosures. Strategic placement of these nodes is crucial. A good position is one where many other nodes will pass by, and it should also have a relatively solid electrical power supply. In our pilot, the roof of a local school with a solar power installation already in place proved to be an ideal location. Furthermore, this location allowed us to test the system in a real-world setting. Breaking down each data package into smaller packages is essential. These packages must be small enough to send over Iridium short burst data. As a result, each user action results in 8-9 individual satellite messages. These messages are encoded and transmitted individually, error checked, and then recombined. Finally, they can post to our backend systems. Here’s what it looks like in real life – a shot from our labs. In addition to the technical details, we will also cover the practical applications of the system.

What about electrical outages?

We anticipated that the nodes would need to be robust. Ensuring they have enough on-board power was crucial. This compensates for electrical outages, as delivery trucks can only supply 12v power when the ignition is on. Fortunately, our hardware engineer friends at Weaver Labs provided a solid solution to this issue inside these boxes. They equipped the nodes with integrated backup power systems and implemented a battery management system and software. This helps the nodes recover from power outages and situations where the on-board battery is fully depleted. Moreover, this ensures that the system remains operational even in challenging conditions. The result is a combination of hardware and software, enabled by mesh network technology, 4g, and satellite communication. This combination allows the system to stand up to difficult conditions and still work. In conclusion, our system is designed to provide reliable tracking and communication in even the most challenging environments. In our next post, I’ll address how the system handles security, covering the authentication and blockchain details backed into Track & Trust.

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In today’s industrial landscape, predictive maintenance is crucial for efficiency and reducing downtime. However, challenges arise when equipment operates in areas with limited or no internet. This is where Track & Trust steps in, enabling predictive maintenance online, even in offline environments.

Bringing Predictive Maintenance Online, Anywhere

Track & Trust uses a mesh network to collect data from sensors and machinery in offline environments. Once collected, the system sends this data to a device with internet connectivity. From there, it integrates into the operational data infrastructure. As a result, organizations can access real-time insights despite any connectivity challenges.

Enhancing Asset Reliability and Efficiency

Track & Trust enables predictive maintenance in offline environments, helping organizations reduce breakdowns. Moreover, it minimizes reactive maintenance for machinery without internet access. This is particularly beneficial in industries like smart mining, asteroid mining, and smart farming. In these industries, connectivity limitations are common. With Track & Trust, organizations can proactively address equipment issues, reduce downtime, and optimize operational efficiency.

Empowering Industries to Thrive

Track & Trust acts as a catalyst for industries aiming to enhance their capabilities in offline environments. In addition, it bridges the gap between offline monitoring and online systems. Therefore, organizations can make data-driven decisions and improve overall asset reliability.

Key Takeaways

In an era where connectivity is not always guaranteed, Track & Trust offers a reliable solution for bringing predictive maintenance online, even in offline environments. Through its seamless integration of offline monitoring with online systems, organizations can gain real-time insights. Consequently, they can drive operational efficiency even when facing connectivity challenges. As industries continue to evolve, Track & Trust helps them stay ahead of the curve, maximizing operational performance.

Track & Trust is funded by the European Space Agency. It is a joint development project by Ororatech, Weaverlabs, and Datarella.

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*** Visit our new Track & Trust website for more information ***

Track & Trust combines modern Web3, communication, and satellite technologies, creating a robust supply chain solution that caters to the actual needs of users. By leveraging these cutting-edge advancements, Track & Trust allows logistics companies and humanitarian organizations to navigate complex scenarios, such as aid supply coordination in regions with compromised or non-existent communications infrastructure. Even in remote and disconnected areas, Track & Trust provides the transparency and authentic data required for efficient operations.

From the very beginning, efforts were made to understand the requirements in the field of logistics precisely. Real logistic processes were examined to identify their weaknesses. We have dedicated ourselves to developing a robust system that ultimately had to meet high stress criteria in the testing procedures required by the ESA, which funded the project with about EUR 1.5 million. We went through a complex development process where partners with three different technologies had to position their core competencies appropriately while integrating them seamlessly to become more than the sum of their parts.

The product – introducing Probabilistic Supply Chain Tracking
Unlike traditional supply chain solutions, Track & Trust offers a probabilistic approach to tracking goods. Any interaction with the shipment, including scanning a Track & Trust QR code, triggers a status update, providing as much information about the shipment as possible! It is ultimately up to the client which information to utilize. Track & Trust’s emphasis on data collection unlocks a world of possibilities for process innovation. By leveraging the data obtained from the operational area, logisticians can complement and expand their services in new and exciting ways. This data-driven approach opens doors to potential future extensions, such as training AI models to predict delivery shrinkage, stock levels, and route recommendations. By harnessing the power of data, Track & Trust generates added value for logistic companies’ customers, offering new competitive advantages in the industry

What lies ahead in the journey of Track & Trust?
We have successfully completed a significant milestone with the Factory Acceptance Test. Concrete processes with our partners are already being planned for the upcoming pilot phase. In the coming weeks, these plans will be further refined, and the delivery of Track & Trust system components will be carried out in the most suitable deployment area where it can achieve the greatest impact and benefit. We will announce the specific deployment scenario in our future blog posts. So, stay tuned!

Our next milestone is the Site Acceptance Test. Here we will conduct another series of tests under real conditions before the system is used for the first time by logisticians and partners.

We are excited to demonstrate the impact and benefits of Track & Trust very soon and to revolutionize the supply chain sector with its technological potential!

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Track & Trust combines a set of modern Web3, communication, and satellite technologies and aims to address significant unsolved challenges of today’s supply chains. Combining various communication systems creates a network for the supply chain even in the most remote areas of the world.

Any kind of shipment information from such areas is highly valuable for all actors along the supply chain, such as logistic firms, their clients, the end consumer, and the operating teams on the ground. One of the current challenges is the accessibility of information in fast-changing and remote areas – an issue the Track & Trust team seeks to facilitate. While other supply chain systems deterministically produce output information by requiring a specific input, Track & Trust does not rely on standardized initial input, minimizing hurdles in gaining knowledge. Our probabilistic approach, in contrast, allows maximum flexibility. Any kind of slightest interaction with the shipment, even if it is only the scanning of a T&T QR code with a smartphone, leads to the submission of a status update. And it doesn’t matter whether logistical staff or anyone else has carried out this scan or someone not related to it.

Additionally, users are free to report on the status of the shipment or their own circumstances, meaning they can communicate through a text field and provide any extra information on the shipment on their terms, e.g. “flooded route. Took a different route, delivery delayed by two hours”. It is ultimately at the discretion of the logistics operators to multiply the effectiveness of their tracking tools to decide how and what data they use.

Leveraging Data to Drive Process Innovation

Data from the operational area is the actual raw material – logisticians can use them to complement or expand their services in a new way. This leaves room for extensions in the future, for example, on a basis of such a broad database, AI models could be trained to ultimately make predictions about the shrinkage of deliveries, stock levels, and route recommendations. Doing so creates added value for logistic companies’ customers and new competitive advantages for the company itself. Thereby, while increasing efficiency and transparency, Track & Trust holds the potential to change the logistics industry. Lastly, we feel grateful that by investing in this project, the European Space Agency underscores the overall potential of our tracking tool.

As things are beginning to take shape, stay tuned for updates on Track & Trust as it is ready for deployment by 2023!

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The supply chain industry is facing massive changes through technological evolution. Led by Datarella, a consortium with our partners Weaver Labs and OroraTech has realized the opportunity to merge blockchain, network and satellite technologies to create a unique supply chain solution that meets the actual needs of its users. With its investment in Track & Trust, the European Space Agency (ESA) underlines the potential of this unique project. We at Datarella are proud of the progress the project has made since its kick-off in 2021. Track & Trust is currently in its late development phase and is scheduled to be ready for deployment by 2023!

What makes Track & Trust so innovative?
Today’s delivery processes face complex challenges – especially when dealing with crisis scenarios involving aid supplies and when the technical conditions on the ground are poor, but the demands for reliability and accountability are high. Logistics companies and humanitarian organizations, like our partner Aid Pioneers, are then faced with the challenge of coordinating aid supplies in regions where the communications infrastructure has most likely been destroyed. To ensure that goods arrive where they are supposed to, sufficient transparency, especially in these remote and disconnected areas, is required. Ultimately, it is not only a matter of transmitting information about the aid supplies but also of ensuring authentic undistorted data that reflects the actual facts on the ground.

What impact can Track & Trust have?
With the help of satellite technology and network technology, we intend to span the Internet over those separate areas that have no or insufficient Internet connection due to the crisis. In other words, we are putting a lot of effort into tracking deliveries right down to the last mile, which is unique in this way. Emerging from such a challenging demonstration, Track & Trust ultimately proves its suitability for any commercial application. Track & Trust holds the potential to change the logistics industry by increasing efficiency, transparency, and security.

So, it stays exciting! Stay tuned for updates on Track & Trust!

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