Crossbow, Richards-Zeta form alliance

Crossbow Technology Inc. and Richards-Zeta Building Intelligence Inc. recently formed a business and technology alliance to deliver wireless sensor networks and building intelligence to end-users.

By Control Engineering Staff July 7, 2005

Crossbow Technology Inc. and Richards-Zeta Building Intelligence Inc. recently formed a business and technology alliance to deliver wireless sensor networks and building intelligence to end-users. The two California-based companies say the partnership will benefit both firms’ clients by providing technology platform integration and forming complete end-to-end solutions. This collaboration reportedly will make it possible for users requiring extensive sensing solutions to integrate multiple sites with many sub-systems into one intelligent, IP-centric platform.

The companies report their alliance follows recent major investments in Crossbow by Cisco Systems, Intel Capital, and Paladin Capital Group. Crossbow adds its alliance with Richards-Zeta further builds on the existing relationship between Cisco and Richards-Zeta and further solidifies the delivery of solutions for developing smarter and connected buildings. The partners state these mutual relationships are expected to deliver new wireless sensor networking offerings to end-users.

Crossbow and Richards-Zeta add they’ll drive joint adoption of technologies, including integration of wireless mesh networking directly into Richards-Zeta’s Mediator/M2 hardware and Omega web tools, as well as bundling building intelligence integration products with deployment of a sensor network by Crossbow. Richards-Zeta’s Omega user interface and M2 hardware platform already seamlessly integrate with Crossbow’s wireless sensors, enabling integration of wireless sensors in disparate building systems.

Crossbow’s wireless sensor platform includes sensors for building automation, utilities, transportation, industrial, and military applications to monitor operating parameters over a range of environmental conditions. In many building automation applications, deploying a wireless sensor network can increase availability of information regarding the operating efficiency of major systems and sub-systems.

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com