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Lattis’ Ellipse smart lock runs on the sun and warns your folks when you crash

Ellipse smart lock, feature img
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Ellipse smart lock, on bars

You’ve gotta love modern times – there are now ‘smart city’ companies out there working specifically to develop technologies that will make urban living easier and more efficient than ever before. San-Francisco’s Lattis is one of these companies, and they’ve come up with a clever new smart lock for bike commuters and bike-share programs.

The Ellipse Smart Bike Lock was recently introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. This U-lock uses Bluetooth technology to enable locking/unlocking from your phone, real-time theft and crash alerts, and the ability to set up keyless bike sharing within your trusted circle of friends. The Ellipse also features a solar panel which produces more power than you might expect…

Ellipse smart lock

Construction wise the Ellipse features a 17mm chromoly shackle with a dual-locking mechanism, and the electronics are all temperature, moisture and shock resistant. Where it gets fancy is how it pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth, and communicates at distances up to 800ft. With a simple tap on your phone the Ellipse opens/locks, but of course there are other fun functions to play with.

Ellipse smart lock, on rack

An internal accelerometer allows the Ellipse to alert users to bike theft attempts with an instant message right to your phone. However if you want someone to be able to take your bike for a ride, you can set up a trusted network and allow others electronic access to your steed. Your bike can also be tracked with the Find My Ellipse feature in the smartphone app. By detecting the last location the bike was locked this feature can tell you where your friends have been riding, or help you remember which pub you closed down last night.

Ellipse smart lock, crash detection screenshot

Possibly the coolest feature of this lock is that it can detect major impacts, and using the Ellipse App it will send notifications (with GPS coordinates) to your family members or friends so they can come help you out, or at least be aware that something has happened.

Ellipse smart lock, top view

The lock’s built-in solar panel will actually provide enough power that it all but eliminates the need for charging- Just one hour of sunlight produces enough juice for the Ellipse to operate for a week. 12 hours of sunlight equals a full charge, which can keep the lock going for up to six months. Should you still run out of power, you can plug in via micro-USB to top off the battery.

Ellipse smart lock, fleet management screenshot
*Photos courtesy of Lattis

Lattis are looking for individual and fleet customers with the Ellipse, so they’re developing a commercial bike-sharing platform that should roll out sometime in the first half of 2017. They aim to make bike-sharing much cheaper than existing systems with web and app-based programs that are customizable to suit different bike-share applications.

Lattis envisions a system where users can pick up and drop off shared bikes anywhere, pay for borrowed bikes through their smartphones, and benefit from the added safety of the Ellipse’s crash notification while they ride. As for potential hackers, they say the lock’s ‘bank-level’ encryption should keep things secure.

The Ellipse smart lock is now available online for $199 USD, with free shipping to the USA and Canada.

lattis.io

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R
R
7 years ago

I ordered Lattis (originally Skylock) from Velo Laps in March of 2015. It is now February 2017 and I still have yet to receive it, so unfortunately I cannot weigh in on my thoughts and experiences.

Furthermore, every time I inquire as to the status of my shipment, I get the runaround of how there are shipping delays and how it’ll “only be just a few more weeks!” Wall posts on Facebook are deleted immediately if they are negative, and I suspect that the name Lattis was switched from Skylock because of all of the negative feedback and dissatisfaction from the seemingly scam that Velo labs pulled – drum up a ton of support for a product and offer a nice discount for “Pre-Orders” when in actuality the product hadn’t even been created yet, prototypes wrought with flaws and malfunctions, all the while boasting, bragging, and self-promoting just to increase pre-sales to fund development of a product.

It’ll be over two years for a product, when purchased in March of 2015, was anticipated to ship LATE SUMMER 2015.

CB
CB
7 years ago

I too pre-ordered my “Lattis” in June of 2015. The company has broken over a dozen shipping commitments that they have made in writing. I am beginning to believe that the product does not even exist. I would not order it until the product is actually reviewed based on experience rather than broken promises.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

I ordered my skylock 2 years ago and it is being delivered to me today . I am in Toronto Canada. I am very excited . Be patient folks you will have the coolest lock on the market.

E
E
7 years ago

We were early kickstarter investors and after 2.5 years received ours today. Huge disappointment. It doesn’t work consistently with the app or code lock.

Chip
Chip
6 years ago

As an early kickstarter investor I received my lock in the end of march 2017. Have had nothing but trouble with it. The 100′ plus claimed Bluetooth range is less than 100″ and still disconnects in side 100 inches. Twittered with them this afternoon and was told a new android app will be out within 2 weeks and will be much more stable.

Maxim Smirnov
Maxim Smirnov
6 years ago

Just got it and its great, but a heavy one )

Henry Pan
Henry Pan
6 years ago

It’s been over a year since my order I made since June 2016 and still have not received my order as well…

Michele
Michele
6 years ago

I order my skylock in march 2015 finally after 28 months I receive the toy , first three weeks working good and after one month someone stole my front wheel and no alarm nothing I’m ready contact lattis for a support and the after 10000 questions say ” send back your locker we can replace for another one” . I’m still waiting again and I’m wrote several email but nobody answered. No lock and no money back , I’m already reported for fraud!!!!!

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