Ubi-Park, an access control solution for cycle parking facilities showcased at the Salon des Maires et des Collectivités Locales, a trade show for mayors and local authorities

Ubipark

Every cyclist has at some point feared that their bike might be stolen, even from a parking facility. SenseYou, a new start-up created by Inria, has developed Ubi-Park, a simple and truly innovative solution for securing access to cycle parks.

The originality of this solution lies in its use of ubiquitous computing. The cyclist and his/her bike constitute a pair which provides the "access key" for the parking facility. This means that only people who turn up with their own bike can access the parking facility, preventing those with bad intentions from entering. In addition, in order to limit the risk of theft, access to the parking facility is only possible for people who have a bike inside, and cyclists can only leave with their own bikes.

For cycle park managers, Ubi-Park is a free-standing solution that does not use any local or central database. It does not depend on any cellular communication system. It allows a security system to be implemented "on-demand" by fitting radio-frequency tags, paired with the owner, to the parts of the bike you want to protect. It can be deployed immediately, simply by positioning the tag readers and associated computers near to the doors to which you want to control access. The implementation of the system is characterised by its simplicity, its lightness and its suitability for any size of parking facility, as well as all types of electronically controlled door systems.

Unlike traditional access control systems, which are based on identification using a database, Ubi-Park respects the anonymity of users and does not store any personal information about the bike owners. This solution, which is independent of any computer infrastructure, meets all the requirements for a parking facility access system that is both functional and self-sufficient.

Ubi Park is the result of a technology transfer from the Aces team at the Inria Rennes – Bretagne Atlantique research centre, a team focussing on embedded operating systems and system supports for ubiquitous computing. It is being marketed by SenseYou, a start-up offering software solutions that use communication between objects and people to provide new services.

Abri-Plus, the national market leader in the construction and installation of cycle parking facilities, has chosen to use Ubi-Park. It will be demonstrated on its stand at the next Salon des maires et des collectivités locales, a trade show for mayors and local authorities, which will be held at the Porte de Versailles convention centre in Paris on 23, 24 and 25 November (Stand 2.2 – H13).

About

Inria

A public science and technology institution, supervised by the French Ministries of Research and Industry. Annual budget (2009): €217 million, 21% of which represents its own resources. Regional research centres: Paris - Rocquencourt, Sophia Antipolis – Méditerranée, Grenoble – Rhône-Alpes, Nancy – Grand Est, Rennes – Bretagne Atlantique, Bordeaux – Sud Ouest, Lille – Nord Europe, Saclay – Île-de-France. 3,150 researchers, including more than 1,000 PhD students, working within more than 170 project-teams, the majority of which are shared with other bodies, Grandes Ecoles and universities. 80 associate teams worldwide. Around one hundred businesses created since 1984.
For more information: www.Inria.fr

SenseYou

Created in July 2008, the company SenseYou builds on more than ten years of Inria experience in ambient intelligence.

Today, it develops self-sufficient solutions based on the concept of paired physical objects for the protection of people and property.

For more information: www.senseyou.fr

Abri Plus

Created in 1992, Abri Plus specialises in the manufacture and installation of trolley shelters for local authorities and shopping centres. Thanks to the quality of its products, its innovation, its style and the fact that it honours its commitments, AbriPlus has become the leading player in the French market.

Since 2009, Abri Plus has centralised all of its activities in Saint-Philibert-de-Grandlieu, near Nantes, at a 4,000m2 site (with 2,200 m2 devoted to production, 1,400M2 to storage and 400M2 to office space).

With more than 2,500 shelters sold in 2008, Abri Plus is the uncontested leader in the French shelters market, and the only company to control the entire chain from shelter design to installation.

For more information: www.abri-plus.com

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