Power Efficient, Telemetry-Enabled Position Sensor for Animal Tracking

Abstract

This thesis describes the design, development and characterisation of an animal position sensor system. It focuses on the implementation of a telemetry system capable of retrieving position data wirelessly.

The position sensor electronics weigh only 10 g and utilises the 868 MHz frequency band for telemetry. Implementing a solar energy harvesting system, the sensors demonstrated the potential for an indefinite deployable lifetime. With over 300,000 location acquisitions, the static position sensors were found to have a Circular Error Probable accuracy of < 4 m. The telemetry system showed reliable data transmission out to 1 km. However, it is capable of a range of 2.4 km with a clear line of sight. All aspects of the position sensors were developed to be power efficient. The development included details of the hardware circuit design and the software for both the position sensor devices and the base station. Also included is a customised telemetry protocol centred around power efficient strategies. Characterisation and testing of the position sensor included the evaluation of three key factors. The factors investigated were location accuracy, power consumption and the telemetry transmission performance. Finally, future revisions to the position sensor system are detailed, with exciting possibilities from the hardware layer up to the telemetry protocol.