Wireless Innovation
HyphaMESH CAP
2021
Research, Concept, Development, Electronics, Production + Packaging
HyphaMESH CAP
HyphaCAP: Communications Access Point by Wireless Innovation
Hypha is a brand of Wireless Innovation Pty Ltd, an Australian-owned company focused on serving the Public Safety and Enterprise sectors with integrated multi-bearer communications solutions. At its core, the HyphaCAP (Communications Access Point) is a portable handheld device targeted at enabling critical communication channels to stay live in and around regular communication blackspots. HyphaCAP’s key users are teams of people who are operating in such areas where a dependable network connection is paramount to public and personal safety. These include emergency and disaster relief services, rescue teams as well as mining applications.
The key technology driving the HyphaCAP is HyphaMESH; an IP transparent network, based on the COFDM waveform, that can operate independently or integrate back to a central core or wider network. This extends coverage for WiFi or Bluetooth-enabled devices, sensors, and cameras into challenging environments such as backcountry, urban or underground areas of operation.
Mission critical communication.
Design Challenge: For teams in harsh and demanding environments — A dependable network connection is paramount.
The HyphaCAP (Communications Access Point) needed to be reliable, durable, and simple to operate. The teams that require this device are working within demanding and often harsh environments. These include emergency and disaster relief services, rescue teams as well as mining applications. When team member movements are reactive and unpredictable, a dependable network connection enabling clear communication is essential to operational safety and success. Any form of CAP device downtime could sever critical comms, significantly raising risk, a dedicated solution to allow the continuous streaming of network signals was vital, even when replacing exhausted batteries (hot-swap battery).
Mandatory ruggedised product requirements such as portability, robust IP protection (IP67), and drop resistance were key design challenges to tackle to ensure the device remained operational, regardless of where the user's response or mission takes them. What could be considered an abuse case for some devices — are standard use cases for CAP devices in this field.
Dependable: uninterrupted network connectivity.
Design Solution: Reliable. Ruggedised. Intuitive. Essential communications for time-critical response teams.
The HyphaCAP is a highly intuitive product offering in the HyphaMESH product range with the potential to save lives. Through carefully considered design solutions and problem-solving, the HyphaCAP offers a redefined communications device with usability at the forefront of its design. At face value, the HyphaCAP presents itself as a ruggedised product with a vibrant and tactile TPE overmould highlighting the user grip and key touchpoints. A singular on/off power button offers unambiguous operability. The user interface is simply defined by status LED’s which inform the user of power, network connection, and battery capacity.
The device is as simple to use as possible. Ergonomically, it sits comfortably in a user's hand + accessory attachment points add versatility to its stowing and portability with both clipping + tether points catered for. Careful consideration was also applied to a battery latch which is simple to engage and disengage in a one-handed operation, notwithstanding users who may be wearing heavy protective gloves. Because the HyphaCAP is designed to offer uninterrupted network connectivity, the power budget and battery behaviour needed to reflect this. The hot-swap battery pack (which doubles the total battery capacity), allows the device to run constantly for 12 hours. The hot-swap battery pack can be removed and replaced with a fresh battery without disrupting the network and any active comms. Back at the vehicle or the depot multiple replacement battery packs can be replenished via one of two simple charging options ready for redeployment.
A globally competitive solution.
Innovation + Commerciality: Australian innovation serving an essential safety role in demanding situations.
“From idea, to concept, to commercialised product. Every step of the way we were advised of a particular path, challenge or choice. We did our cross checking, the advice first given by the D+I team always turned out to be right. Partnering with D+I ensured engineering + electronics excellence — we did not have to review a cable. Everything just worked. This development was rapid — 200 days from idea to product — with HyphaCAP now being trialled by emergency + mining teams around the U.S. and Australia. ”
- Michael, Head of Mesh Product, Wireless Innovation
HyphaCAP enables communication channels to be established where they otherwise would be lost, it serves an essential safety role in its applied setting. The device has the capacity to significantly aid safety and recovery, not only of the direct users of the product but also to wider affected public groups. Whilst competitor products offer removable battery packs and battery expansions, they fall short of allowing their devices to run during battery changeover. The hot-swap battery employed in HyphaCAP is a world-first for a device of this type. The set of capabilities of the HyphaCAP compared to competitors is matched on specifications with a significantly more affordable entry point to the market (50% lower). This price point is of no compromise to quality nor is it impacting the profitability for Wireless Innovation; there is a healthy return on investment for this product. Additionally, it has attracted keen investment interest from large global telecommunications providers.
The HyphaCAP is the marquee product in the new HyphaMESH product range co-developed with Design + Industry (Research, Concept, Development, Electronics, Production + Packaging). As a company, Wireless Innovation was formerly a service provider offering disparate solutions in the RF communications sector. The launch of the HyphaCAP marks a shift towards R+D and direct product development to answer the true call of their customers.
