Geolocation once a day for a year

Community Projects
1

I’m studying the viability of a project that consists on locating cattle.

The idea is NOT to study the migration of the cows or anything, but just to know where they are so that the rancher does not need to spend hours looking for them.

Most of the available technology (telonics, biotrack…) has internal memory to gather all the data, they’re really small devices and extremely expensive, as its target are wild/exotic animals, and their goal is not to just knowing where the animal is but to fully study its behaviour.

Ideally, my system would require:

  • Solar cell for unlimited battery life

  • Send position once a day to a SPECIFIC server (if internet) / phone number (if cellular network)

  • Mechanically robust (waterproof, <0ºC temperatures,…)

  • ~300€/device

(The solar cell could be exchanged for a battery that assures 1 year battery life.)

I’m seriously considering on doing this myself (if there is no device that meets this conditions). Most of the cellular-based devices are either for cats/dogs with 1-day battery life (basically a cellphone with GPS…) or they do not allow you to send the data to a specific number, you have to use their web services and so.

At first I thought on using the cellular network (and send data via SMS), but then I’ve learnt of ARGOS. My questions are:

  • Do you know any already existing device?

  • Do you know any low power ARGOS transmitter?

  • Can you use ARGOS for commercial uses? I.e., this project, if done, would be sold to ranchers.

Any help would be appreciated.

2

Consider the SPOT satellite location service. The handheld SPOT GEN3 claims 2 years battery life (unused), and you could probably modify them to send very infrequent messages. They don’t seem to publish battery life data for the Trace. http://www.findmespot.com/shop/index.ph … ucts_id=38

Roll your own locator with the Arduino compatible and inexpensive Rockblock MK2 satellite modem, which uses the Iridium network. http://www.rock7mobile.com/products-rockblock

3

cnavast:
I’m studying the viability of a project that consists on locating cattle.

The idea is NOT to study the migration of the cows or anything, but just to know where they are so that the rancher does not need to spend hours looking for them.

Most of the available technology (telonics, biotrack…) has internal memory to gather all the data, they’re really small devices and extremely expensive, as its target are wild/exotic animals, and their goal is not to just knowing where the animal is but to fully study its behaviour.

Ideally, my system would require:

  • Solar cell for unlimited battery life

  • Send position once a day to a SPECIFIC server (if internet) / phone number (if cellular network)

  • Mechanically robust (waterproof, <0ºC temperatures,…)

  • ~300€/device

(The solar cell could be exchanged for a battery that assures 1 year battery life.)

I’m seriously considering on doing this myself (if there is no device that meets this conditions). Most of the cellular-based devices are either for cats/dogs with 1-day battery life (basically a cellphone with GPS…) or they do not allow you to send the data to a specific number, you have to use their web services and so.

At first I thought on using the cellular network (and send data via SMS), but then I’ve learnt of ARGOS. My questions are:

  • Do you know any already existing device?

  • Do you know any low power ARGOS transmitter?

  • Can you use ARGOS for commercial uses? I.e., this project, if done, would be sold to ranchers.

Any help would be appreciated.

Assuming area of use is huge.

Assuming you don’t want recurring costs for satellite or cellular (or cellular coverage may not exist)

Receivers on posts, solar recharged batteries.

Assuming one can drive a route to auto-collect data wirelessly, e.g., jeep drive-by, pause, get data, move on. To backhaul all receivers wirelessly to a central place - doable as a cost option if terrain permits.

I’d use existing cattle tags with IEEE 802.15.4 radios embedded w/battery. Low cost, expendable. Off the shelf. These tags talk (bi-directional) to receivers distributed in the coverage area and along frequently used routes by the cattle. Not 100% coverage unless extra cost for that is worth it to find the lost cow in odd place. Cattle tags about $25 ea as I recall.

Interesting project. I’d enjoy working with you on this… I looked at the cattle tags some time ago to do a homeland security where the tags went on other than cattle!