Public Funding for Hard-Off Security Ltd

The project is focused on combating car theft from cars and of cars, that are keyless entry/keyless start vehicles by 'relay hacking'. This has become endemic in the UK, as it has across the world and is now the most common way to steal cars. Because this 'convenience feature' has critical security weaknesses which make the car's fob easy to extend their range using a relay hacking device which allows the car to be opened and started without having the fob in close proximity to the vehicle. Key fobs remain ON and active 24/7 but are actually only required less than 1% of the time (5 minutes/day). Switching the fob OFF completely renders it unhackable because it cannot transmit or receive a signal. Our target market is the used car sector which is not being addressed by manufacturers other than Ford who have a solution for their own vehicles. Our current solution is to install one of a range of 'Kits' into the key fob, which can include a flexible PCB (fPCB) with motion sensing circuitry and an optional external magnetic override switch. The scope and variation in types of keyless entry key fob, i.e. shape, internal space and layout are vastly different across all makes and models of car. Only the battery sizes are consistent. The current solution requires someone trained in key fob design and construction. This project is to redesign a 'universal kit' so it is simplified and based around the button battery size and made easier for the motorist to fit, without any specific technical expertise. Our pre-COVID strategy was to sell through a National distributor who, based on the customer's fob presented, trained fitters could select the appropriate 'Kit' , fit the kit and test it while the customer waited in the store. A process taking about 5 minutes and not dissimilar to changing a fob battery which they were already doing in store. This overcame the selection and installation challenges faced by an inexperienced buyer. Post-COVID, as an across the board business decision our distributor withdrew, at the height of the lockdown from all new innovation projects. Evidence is available if required. Although our route-to-market has been abruptly cut, with hindsight, this enforced change to selling direct to motorists will give us the opportunity to gain greater control over our market, a better product, greater opportunities and improved cash flow. Our new product design will accommodate the technical challenges of 'universal fitment' by achieving the following objectives: * Simple selection * Simplified installation * Widens the scope of key fobs that the new 'Kit' will fit easily (universal fitment based on Battery-size alone) * Reduces manufacturing and retail costs * Reduces Materials used (PCB Substrate and plastics) Although a fairly major upgrade in terms of reconfiguring the technology it is still based on our core components of the 'All Automatic' Kit, so we are quite confident about its feasibility. The key innovation lies in its simplicity to fit and reduction in components and materials.