Smart Locking Phone Mount

In an industry where distracted driving remains a critical safety challenge — particularly in heavy transport fleets — Neka partnered with Cocktails Solutions to co-develop an innovative solution: a smart locking phone mount that mechanically secures the device, preventing use while the vehicle is in motion.

Branded as Block+Lock, the mount featured:

• an electromechanical lock controlled by a microcontroller
• an audible alarm if the phone was absent when the vehicle moved
• GPS with accelerometer to detect movement and assess risk levels
• a wireless communication module for real-time data reporting
• a phone presence detection system
• an RFID anti-tamper mechanism
• charging capability during lock
• a timestamped event log
• multi-protocol interfaces (Wi-Fi, RS-232, Bluetooth)
• compatibility with professional driver-assistance systems

In parallel, Cocktails Solutions designed and delivered a cloud-based platform including a website, web services, and database, enabling:

• real-time tracking of devices
• remote firmware updates
• centralized analytics for entire vehicle fleets

A patent was filed by Neka, listing Cocktails Solutions as co-inventor of the technology.

We also engineered the production test bench, used to program and validate the units during manufacturing. Approximately 2,000 units were produced.

While the project was ultimately discontinued due to Neka’s bankruptcy — unrelated to the technology itself — Block+Lock remains a prime example of Cocktails Solutions’ ability to deliver innovative, safety-driven embedded and cloud-connected solutions for the transportation industry.