AngelSense Wins 2016 Patient Innovation Awards

Updated on October 20, 2026

In 2016, AngelSense CEO & co-founder Doron Somer was recognized in the Caregiver Innovation category at the second Patient Innovation Awards for AngelSense, a GPS and voice-monitoring assistive technology designed for children with special needs.

The awards recognize patients, caregivers, and collaborators who develop innovative solutions to challenges they have experienced firsthand. Patient Innovation’s Advisory Board selected seven recipients across its award categories after reviewing more than 300 new solutions. AngelSense’s inclusion marked an important milestone for technology developed around the everyday needs of special needs families.

AngelSense GPS Tracker was chosen as a groundbreaking product, as it’s the only solution of its kind designed specifically for children with special needs by leveraging cutting-edge technology to address the unique challenges of the special needs community.  

[Original Photo: Doron Somer presenting at the 2016 Patient Innovation Awards.]

Innovation Inspired by a Parent’s Experience

AngelSense grew from a need familiar to many families: staying informed about a child’s safety when that child cannot always communicate what is happening.

As the father of an autistic son, Doron understood the challenges of finding technology suited to individual communication, sensory, and safety needs. That perspective helped shape AngelSense’s combination of location monitoring, caregiver communication, and secure wearing accessories.

It was truly inspiring to be in the company of entrepreneurs that created amazing solutions born out of their own experience with chronic health conditions. We feel privileged to have been included in this group of innovators that have made a difference for others despite their own hardships – Doron Somer, CEO & co-founder of AngelSense

The award celebrated more than a tracking device. It recognized a caregiver’s response to a personal challenge—and an innovation developed to help other families facing similar concerns.

Supporting Families During Everyday Routines

AngelSense combines a wearable device with an app that helps caregivers stay informed about their loved one’s location and communicate when needed.

For families concerned about wandering, location information and relevant alerts can help caregivers recognize a change and respond. Voice features provide another way to connect when a child may struggle to answer a conventional phone.

Those needs also arise during ordinary daily activities. A school-bus journey, for example, can raise questions about the route, unexpected delays, or whether a child has reached the intended destination. Location and transportation monitoring can give caregivers information to help them follow up when something changes.

The aim is to support both safety and participation in everyday life, with tools chosen around the individual’s needs.

[Original photo: Doron Somer receiving the award.]

How AngelSense Helps Caregivers Stay Connected Today

Since the 2016 recognition, AngelSense has continued developing its assistive technology. Current capabilities include:

• Live location monitoring: View location information and review daily locations and journeys.


• Arrival and departure notifications: Receive relevant alerts when a loved one arrives at or leaves saved places.


• Transportation monitoring: Follow journeys and stay informed about unexpected stops or delays.


• Assistive voice communication: Initiate two-way communication through an auto-answer speakerphone.


• Location sharing: Share a live tracking map with people helping during a search.


• Wearing options: Choose accessories designed with sensory needs and secure attachment in mind.


• Caregiver access: Allow multiple authorized caregivers to stay informed and coordinate support.

Tracking and communication depend on coverage, available signals, device power, and settings. These tools complement the family’s supervision and wider safety arrangements.

Explore AngelSense unique life-saving features.

About Patient Innovation

Patient Innovation is a nonprofit platform where patients, caregivers, and collaborators share solutions developed from their own experiences. Its awards recognize innovators whose work demonstrates originality and potential to improve people’s lives.

The 2016 winners announcement lists Doron Somer and AngelSense in the Caregiver Innovation category, alongside other innovations addressing needs across different conditions.

A Milestone in a Continuing Mission

The 2016 award remains a meaningful part of AngelSense’s story: recognition of an idea shaped by a parent’s experience and developed for families with similar needs.

That caregiver perspective continues to guide AngelSense’s focus on helping families stay connected while supporting their loved ones’ safety and independence.

Discover how AngelSense can support your family’s daily routine.

 

Get peace of mind from AngelSense, the groundbreaking AI-based assistive technology designed to enhance safety and peace of mind for individuals with special needs and their families. Our solution ensures you stay connected with your loved ones, empowering a higher level of independence while maintaining safety. Learn more about how AngelSense can make a difference for your family.