Patented Heli™ Spring-Loaded Grip
Tool-less, zip-tie-free, re-usable attachment on cables, pipes, hoses, and conduits. Each Heli™ spring is conformal to 0/+20% of its nominal cable diameter (i.e. a cable up to 20% larger in diameter will fit, but a smaller diameter will not be gripped securely), and Heli is available in as many SKUs as there are standard cable and pipe diameter sizes — covering the full range up to a circumference of 25 cm.
NFC Type V (ST Micro ST25-TV) & UHF RFID — 60-Year Data Retention
NFC-only Heli™ tags use the ST Micro ST25-TV (NFC Type V, ISO 15693, 13.56 MHz). RAIN+NFC Heli™ tags use EM Micro EM4425 & EM4427 ICs — dual-interface ICs combining NFC Type V (ISO 15693) and UHF RFID (RAIN / EPC Gen2) on the same silicon. Its key architectural advantage is shared EEPROM memory bridged across both interfaces: data written via NFC (e.g. a smartphone or QDatDroid) is immediately readable via UHF (logistics readers, warehouse gates, QDatDroid radar). This enables last-mile data injection at the edge and full upstream visibility in supply chain systems — on the same tag, without synchronization. The EEPROM provides multi-decade retention (~60 years under normal conditions) without power. Memory is partitioned into EPC identity, user data, and NFC-accessible blocks, with password protection and memory segmentation for tiered access: consumer NFC interaction on one side, enterprise UHF automation on the other.
Outdoor-Rated Enclosure
High-quality injection-molded plastic rated for outdoor and harsh indoor environments. Built to last as long as the cable.
Shrink-Tube Securable
Heli™ can be secured with a shrink tube to prevent unauthorized removal, while still allowing the tag to be recovered and reused.
Parts Authenticity & Harness ID
Ideal for cable harnesses requiring parts authenticity identification. Each tag carries a persistent, unforgeable digital identity.
Digital Product Passport Carrier
When formatted to host NDEF records, the tag's NFC memory implements the NFC Forum Digital Product Passport specification. It can hold ISO 59040 Product Circularity Data Sheets encoded as CBOR-LD — a compact binary encoding of JSON-LD Linked Data — making full circularity records storable directly on the physical tag. Those same NDEF records are presented across both the NFC and the UHF RAIN RFID interface, so any compatible reader can access the full DPP regardless of which radio technology it uses. Meerv uses Heli itself to demonstrate the complete RFID DPP stack on an actual product — which raises a fundamental question: is the DPP describing the Heli tag, or the product it is attached to? The answer is both. Each Heli™ therefore carries two distinct DPPs: one for the tag itself (its materials, origin, and circularity data), and one for the cable or product to which it is attached.
UHF RAIN RFID Cable Location
UHF RAIN RFID allows any tagged cable to be actively located within a facility using the QDatDroid radar function — pinpointing a specific cable among thousands without manual tracing.
Dielectric Gap Engineering
Metal cable cores and conduits reflect and scatter RF energy; water-filled pipes, PEX tubing, and fluid hoses absorb it — both severely degrading read performance for tags mounted flush to the surface. The Heli™ spring-loaded grip creates a controlled dielectric gap between the RFID inlay and the substrate, restoring reliable NFC and UHF RAIN RFID performance regardless of what is inside. This enables Heli on cables, pipes, hoses, PEX, and metal or plastic conduit — expanding use cases to HVAC systems, chemical plants, food processing facilities, and beyond.
