KēZ
IoT vehicle security system with intelligent auto-arm, advanced power management, and real-time diagnostics.
Services Provided
Technologies
Overview
KēZ is a vehicle security system that combines cellular connectivity with Bluetooth for comprehensive protection. The LTE-M connection enables remote monitoring and control from anywhere, while Bluetooth provides a seamless local experience when near the vehicle.
NRB Tech developed the complete embedded firmware, iOS application, and backend integration for this IoT security platform.
The Challenge
Vehicle security systems must be absolutely reliable—a missed alert or false alarm erodes user trust. The device needs to operate unattended for months or years in harsh conditions (temperature extremes, vibration, intermittent power) while consuming minimal power from the vehicle battery.
Intelligent Auto-Arm Security
The system automatically secures the vehicle when the owner walks away, eliminating the risk of forgetting to arm manually. Bluetooth proximity sensing detects when the owner leaves and arms the system after a configurable delay.
Security logic runs entirely on the device firmware, ensuring consistent behaviour even when cellular connectivity is unavailable.
Always-On Without Draining the Battery
The power management system maintains 24/7 security monitoring while preventing vehicle battery drain:
- Intelligent standby modes during periods of inactivity
- Instant wake-up on user interaction or security events
- Continuous battery voltage monitoring with automatic behaviour adjustment
- Coordinated power states between processor and cellular modem
Designed for Long-Term Reliability
Devices deployed in vehicles face challenging conditions. The firmware includes multiple layers of self-healing:
- Automatic Modem Recovery — Hardware watchdog power-cycles unresponsive cellular modems
- Self-Healing Systems — Automatic recovery from cellular drops or power fluctuations
- Accurate Event Logging — Precise timestamp tracking for security audits and incident investigation
- Robust Provisioning — Atomic backend transactions prevent incomplete device registrations
Field Serviceability
Live Bluetooth diagnostics allow service technicians to stream diagnostic data directly to the mobile app, dramatically reducing troubleshooting time. Technicians can observe device behaviour in real-time without needing physical access to debug interfaces.
Over-the-Air updates enable bug fixes and new features to be deployed to devices in the field via the companion app—no need to recall hardware or schedule service visits.
iOS Application
The companion app delivers a complete security management experience:
- Device setup and configuration
- Real-time security status monitoring
- Location history and event logs
- Subscription management with clear Basic and Premium tiers
Built for Future Hardware
The architecture uses shared C++ components across iOS, Android, and firmware, ensuring security logic behaves identically regardless of platform. A Hardware Abstraction Layer separates business logic from hardware specifics, enabling easier porting to future hardware revisions without rewriting core functionality.