New electronics
We developed new electronics for Homeport unit.
Presentation
You can download our presentation >> here
Homeport provides a locking system and management system for bike share operators.
It is flexible, intelligent, robust and keenly priced. It consists of bicycles, automated bicycle stations and a cloud based software application for the management and administration of the system.
The system can be adapted to localised campus type schemes or to large scale city wide operations, and the design can be changed to suit different climates, topography or street design.
It is easy to install and does not require long lead times to get started. From the user’s point of view, it is simple to understand and quick to release and return a bike and for operators it is the most flexible, cost effective and intelligent solution available.
- Bike stations can be installed quickly, and without any cabling if you chose the solar powered option
- It is so easy to remove and install a station that it is even possible to move the stations according to seasonal demand. For example, during the summer holidays remove some stations from the university and put them by the beach
- Complete "Off the shelf" solution
- 100% automatic
- Simple to use
- Feature rich and highly flexible software solution
- Real-time localisation of bikes/empty locks
- Full access to transactions data
- Easily expandable
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Solar power for cable free installation
- Choose you own bicycles - Compatible with most bicycles
- Modular design means it's easier and less expensive to provide a denser network of bicycle stations
- Possibility to integrate the system with existing "smart card" ticketing systems or adapt to credit cards
- Low cost
Hold your RFID card in front of the card reader zone on the terminal Enter the PIN code and press "OK" Enter the number of the lock unit holding the bicycle chosen for rental Wait a few seconds while the terminal connects to the server via GSM/GPRS to validate the rental Note the bicycle lock combination number which is shown on the LCD screen Once the lock unit is activated (indicated by a beep), press the unlock button on the lock unit Remove the bicycle from the lock
- The user must choose a rack with an empty lock unit in order to return the bicycle after a rental
- Press the unlock button beside the attachment point (the lock will open)
- Insert the bicycle
- At the end of this process, the rental is terminated with a connection to the server
- The rental cost and the user ´s remaining credit can be consulted on the screen of the terminal
Users can consult their account information at any time via the screen of any Homeport rack in the system. Currently, the account information available this way is:
- The duration and cost of the user's last rental transaction
- The user's remaining credit balance
As seen on the pictures above you need to buy from us required number of Consoles, lock units, solar panels and/or batteries and tubing for the frames. The prices vary based on volume you wish to order and if you choose for the solar option. Besides the above basic hardware and bikes of course, you need: batteries charger, card readers for Mifare (to configure the spike locks) and RFID (for RFID cards), RFID cards for your customers (our system is compatible with any i.e. public transport cards used in your area), ....
As part of our product or solution we provide data from our database about your Bike Fleet and it is up to you, how you want to present those to your customers. Mostly used is of course Internet Web sites with interactive map showing locations of bicycle stations with real-time indication of the number of bicycles and free spaces (locks) available at each station.
If there are some software problems, i.e. with the Homeport units, configuration, firmware, etc., we can correct those directly from our Service Centre or to advice accordingly how to solve it. We have a long hours help desk and can ensure emergency troubleshooting.
Your staff will be trained by us mainly to service the hardware part and how to solve software issues if interested as well.
You should also choose yourself for your mobile operator. Each bike stand need to have a unique Sim card for communication (transferring the data). We advise you to use data cards and to get a certain priority for these data transfers from your mobile Operator.
For information on pricing and more details of how the system can be adapted to your particular needs, please contact us on info@homeport.cz or on telephone number: + 420 725 700 621.
Homeport racks are easy and quick to install. With the battery and a solar power option there is no need for mains connection and it is just as easy as the installation of an ordinary bicycle rack.
Each Homeport rack communicates with the server using a wireless GSM/GPRS connection which also avoids the need for additional installation work and cables.
Homeport bike stations are designed to use as little space as possible so that they optimise their location. They are available for any number and size of bicycles.
Bikes can be positioned in a single row in narrow longer spaces or double parked a in shorter wider location. Operators can design and supply personalised totems and signs to ensure that the bicycle stations are as visible as possible.
Separate payment units are also available allowing users to register on the system using a credit card.
- Frame (number 1 on the picture above) Frame is made from stainless steel tubing (O 60.3mm). Three uprights with pedestal base, anchored using three 12mm O rawl bolts per upright. A Homeport rack of 8 self-service bicycles occupies a space of only 3.6m x 3.20m.
- Console (=rental terminal) (number 2 on the picture above) Each rack is equipped with a rental console which allows the users to access the system and rent bicycles. It contains a GSM/GPRS modem which connects to the server, an electronic card reader unit, a simple LCD screen and a keypad. It has been designed to use as little electricity as possible to allow the use of solar power.
- Lock unit (number 3 on the picture above) An electromechanical unit which locks and unlocks the bicycles. Each lock unit is equipped with an RFID reader which allows to identify each bicycle rented or returned, thanks to the RFID chip placed in the tip of the bicycle's lock spike.
- Solar panel and batteries (number 4 on the picture above) Homeport units equipped with a solar panel and batteries can function without any cabling whatsoever. The units can also be connected to mains electricity, or recharge overnight from a connection to a nearby street lighting circuit.
A lock spike compatible with the lock units allows the bicycle to be secured to the bicycle rack. An RFID chip located in the tip of the lock spike permits the bicycle to be identified by the lock units. A simple combination bicycle lock (4 digits) is fixed to each bicycle. This allows the bicycles to be parked securely when away from a bicycle-station. The lock’s combination code is communicated to the user on the screen of the terminal during the rental procedure. The bicycle locking system was designed to ensure compatibility with most adult sized bicycles: the lock spike (with a built-in RFID chip) is fixed to the basket-handlebar assembly. This assembly is fitted without the need for welding.
The Homeport management application is built around a central database system which communicates with all the bicycle racks.
System users may consult the data via on screen interfaces adapted to their level of access:
System Administrator, Customer service agent or Maintenance agent.
To use the system, it is not necessary to install any software other than a standard internet browser. It is necessary to have an internet connection.
- Central database.
- Administration/Customer service/Maintenance user access levels and interfaces.
- User management.
- User identification by RFID card and PIN.
- Simple management of pre-payment accounts.
- Possibility of renting more than one bicycle at a time (the actual number can be specified for each user).
- Possibility of blocking a card or user.
- Interactive map showing locations of bicycle stations with real-time indication of the number of bicycles and free spaces (locks) available at each station.
- Management of the Homeport racks.
- Management of maintenance tasks for both bicycles and rental stations.
- Locate and immobilise individual bicycles.
- Automatic alerts for faults, missing/unused bicycles.
- Price management.
- Easy access to data and statistics. Export to Excel.
Before unlocking the bicycle, the rental-terminal connects to the server with the system's server which runs a number of verifications: mainly:
- The validity of the card
- The validity of the PIN code
- Checks that user has authorisation to use the bicycle rental service
- Checks that the user has sufficient pre-paid credit for a new rental
- Checks the user has not been blocked (black list)
- Checks the user has not reached the maximum number of simultaneous bicycle rentals allowed
- Checks that the bicycle is available for rental or if it is blocked (for repairs, for example)
- The numeric signature of the bicycle rack
- If any of these checks fails, the bicycle will not be released
1st step:
RFID card read by the terminal and PIN code entered by the user: The RFID card allows the user to be identified and the PIN code ensures secure user identification
2nd step:
Rental request information is sent from the Homeport bicycle rack to server using GSM/GPRS connection.
3rd step:
Server sends command to terminal using GSM/GPRS: rental accepted or refused. Server: verifies the correlation PIN code / card, checks the validity of the user ´s subscription, authorises the release of the bicycle, manages the release and reception of the bicycles.