Milwaukee Tool Adds Geofencing Option to Tool Tracking App ONE-KEY

via Milwaukee Tool

via Milwaukee Tool

Almost 3 years ago, Milwaukee Tool rolled out its tool tracking application called ONE-KEY, which is available on Apple, Android, or the web. The tool manufacturer has an ever-expanding line of tools that are ONE-KEY enabled, which not only let users edit the settings of their tools through an app, but they also allow them to lock out a tool, rendering it useless in case it’s lost or stolen.

Milwaukee has just announced that they have released a beta test of Geofencing capabilities to give users better control over the security of their tools. With the geofence option, ONE-KEY users can establish geographical boundaries around their home, jobsite, or storage facility and if a ONE-KEY enabled tool goes outside of those boundaries, the app will send an alert.

To try the geofence option for yourself, you’ll first need to make sure your ONE-KEY app is updated to the latest version.  Next, either edit an existing place or create a new place for your home, work, or other site.  Once that is complete, create the boundaries of your geofence by clicking the “Add a Geofence” option, signified by the blue circle with a plus sign in it (see picture below left).

I reached out to Milwaukee to explain how the alerting function works when the tool leaves the geofence area and here is the response I received:

“Because One-Key™ operates off Bluetooth connectivity, yes the tool would need to come into contact with a One-Key app outside the geofence in order for an alert to be sent to the tool owner. The One-Key™ system updates over 12.5 million tool locations on average every single day. As the number of users continues to grow, so too will the network for tool tracking. We’re impressed with the results we’ve seen so far, and are excited to see it grow in the future. In regard to locking a tool once its left a geofence, that capability is something we’re looking into but it is not part of this beta.”

I personally had better luck adjusting the boundaries of my geofence on the website version of ONE-KEY and had a little trouble being able to change it on my Android App.  As I mentioned above, this update is still in beta testing mode, so Milwaukee will be prompting users for feedback. This is the next step in making the tool tracking software much more valuable to the end user for security and asset management purposes.

Featured
hilti+exo-01+exoskeleton.jpg
Hilti Officially Releases EXO-01 Exoskeleton, Names Price

Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.

CAT S62 Pro Smartphone
The CAT S62 Pro Rugged Smartphone Unleashes the Power of Thermal Imaging

Cat Phones is known to make some pretty rugged smartphones, the kind of phone you don’t have to worry about on the jobsite – even without a case. Licensed by the construction equipment giant, Caterpillar, the phones are made by the UK-based Bullitt Group. The company recently announced the release of their new flagship smartphone model, the CAT S62 Pro.

construction father's day gift guide 2021.jpg
The Ultimate Construction Father's Day Gift Guide 2021

Father’s Day 2021 is June 20, so you better get started on gift ideas if you want to impress dad this year. Whether your father is contractor, handyman, or DIYer, we’ve got a lot of great ideas for him this year.

For more more gift ideas, be sure to check out our past Father's Day Gift Guides from 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 or our Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020

DCB615_3.jpg
DeWalt Announces 15 Amp Hour Battery for Larger, More Powerful Tools

Lithium battery technology is being pushed to new heights in the tool world seemingly every month, as more power hungry tools continue to drop the cord and join the battery revolution. DeWalt is the latest in the game to up the ante with the release of the first 15 am hour 18V battery on the market.

Baubot.PNG
[VIDEO] Baubot, the Robot That Wants to Be Every Trade on the Jobsite

While still new in the construction industries, robots are typically designed to perform a specific task in a highly precise and efficient way, like the rebar tying robot, Tybot or the brick-laying robot Hadrian X. More recently, though, robots are being imagined as platforms for 3rd party companies to develop hardware and accessories to attach to the base robot, like the Boston Dynamics robotic dog, Spot. I recently came across a new robot, called Baubot, which hopes to one day perform tasks using every tool on a typical jobsite.

_Makita_XGT_FamilyShot_1920px.jpg
Makita Announces Release of New 40V, 80V XGT Tool Lineup for US Market

Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.

doosan transparent bucket.jpg
Doosan Announces Industry First “Transparent Bucket” to Wheel Loader to Eliminate Blind Spots

“You make a better door than a window!” is what I imagine loader operators constantly yell at the bucket in front of them (or maybe I’m just projecting based on my experience of having the habit of sitting right in front of the TV as a kid). Either way, operators may not be yelling that in the future, as equipment manufacturer, Doosan, has introduced what they claim is an industry first “transparent” bucket.

iq228 3.PNG
Cool Tools: World’s First Dry Cut 7-1/2” Portable Tile Saw

Reducing dust when cutting tile is important for many reasons (including safety and cleanliness), but wet tile saws can be a pain to use, with the slurry created spraying all around the work station and cold weather making the saw much more difficult to use outside. iQ Power Tools has a solution for that: the world’s first 7” portable dry table saw with integrated dust control.

SkyTy P3.PNG
[VIDEO] SkyTy is the Drone That Ties Rebar From the Sky

Just over a year ago, I was introduced to an early prototype of the SkyMul SkyTy, which is a robotic drone with a rebar tying attachment designed to autonomously locate and tie rebar on the jobsite. After a year of tweaks and advancements, SkyMul is now on their third prototype and they showed off those improvements in a new video.

Volvo CE unveils first mid-size electric excavator concept_02.jpg
[VIDEO] Volvo Announces Mid-Size Electric Excavator, the EX03

Like most of the other electric machines that have been announced previously, Volvo promises that this midsized, 14 metric ton excavator will have the same performance as a similarly sized diesel version. The X03 is currently in the concept stage, so Volvo does not have immediate plans to bring it to market, but it shows the possibilities that electronics on heavy machinery can allow for.