INTRODUCTION

Tractive, a pet technology company, developed a multi-sensor collar for pets equipped with GPS, WiFi, BLE, and GSM technologies. This collar enables pet positioning, data transferring, geofencing, and accelerometer data processing.

BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

The objectives set for the project were to:

• Develop a new generation of firmware for the collar device operated by SoCs nrf52830/52832, including drivers for GSM (3G/LTE), GPS, WiFi additional module, MEMS assist sensors.

• Develop an iOS app for user interaction.

• Implement encrypted connection.

• Provide tools for debugging and manufacturing.

BUSINESS PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY

The need was to enhance the functionality of the pet collar device to provide users with real-time tracking and monitoring of their pets' location, activity, and safety.

APPROACH

Tractive's team developed a solution that enables users to track their pets' exact location via smartphones or any browser. The main features include:

• Geofencing

• LIVE Tracking

• Activity Monitoring

• Location History

• Pet-friendly design

• Energy efficiency

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Hardware: nRF52832, nRF52840, u-blox u201/r412

• Software: Android, iOS

• Firmware: C/C++, Qt, Node.js, RabbitMQ WiFi, BLE, GSM, GPS

LESSONS LEARNED

• Effective collaboration between hardware and software teams is crucial for developing a comprehensive pet tracking solution.

• Prioritizing energy efficiency is essential to ensure longer battery life for pet collar devices.

CONCLUSION

The project resulted in a highly functional pet collar device equipped with advanced tracking and monitoring capabilities, meeting the needs of pet owners for real-time pet location and safety monitoring

“We are happier because they're here.” Head of Firmware & Hardware Developer at Tractive