You are viewing a single comment's thread from:

RE: LeoThread 2024-10-28 03:27

in LeoFinance • 10 days ago

Animal tracking made affordable with $7 Bluetooth beacons, thanks to Apple's Find My network

Conservationists' newest weapon is a simple $7 Bluetooth beacon in a 3D-printed case. Thanks to the relatively uncomplicated hardware, it weighs much less than GPS trackers.

#technology #animal #newsonleo #apple #bluetooth

10 days ago in LeoFinance by
$0.00
    Reply 9
    Sort:  
  • Trending
    • [-]
     10 days ago  

    The use of tiny Bluetooth beacons in wildlife tracking is a relatively new and innovative approach that has gained significant attention in recent years. Here's a more detailed overview of the technology and its potential applications:

    $0.00
      Reply
      [-]
       10 days ago  

      How it Works

      The Bluetooth beacons, also known as Low Energy Beacons (LEBs), are small devices that can be attached to animals or objects in the wild. They use Bluetooth low-energy technology to broadcast a unique identifier that can be detected by nearby iOS devices. When an iPhone detects the beacon, it anonymously reports its position to researchers, creating a crowdsourced network of location data.

      $0.00
        Reply
        [-]
         10 days ago  

        The process works as follows:

        1. The beacon is attached to the animal or object, and a small battery powers it for an extended period.
        2. The beacon broadcasts a unique identifier, which is detectable by nearby iOS devices.
        3. When an iPhone detects the beacon, it uses the Find My network to determine the beacon's location.
        4. The iPhone reports the beacon's location to researchers, who can use this data to track the animal's movements.
        $0.00
          Reply
          [-]
           10 days ago  

          Advantages

          The use of Bluetooth beacons in wildlife tracking offers several advantages over traditional GPS tracking methods. Some of the key benefits include:

          • Low cost: The beacons are relatively inexpensive, with a price tag of around $7 per device.
          • Power efficiency: The beacons require minimal power, making them suitable for deployment in remote areas where batteries may not be readily available.
          • Easy deployment: The devices can be easily attached to animals or objects, and they do not require any specialized equipment or expertise.
          • Hands-free tracking: The beacons require no hands-on tracking or recoveries, reducing the workload and costs associated with traditional tracking methods.
          $0.00
            Reply
            [-]
             10 days ago  

            Limitations

            While the Bluetooth beacons offer several advantages, they are not without limitations. Some of the key challenges include:

            • Positional error: The beacons can experience high positional errors, particularly in areas with heavy traffic or signal blocking.
            • Deterioration in sparsely populated areas: The trackers can become less effective in areas with limited mobile device coverage, making it essential to deploy multiple beacons in these areas.
            • Interference: The beacons can be affected by interference from other Bluetooth devices, which can reduce their accuracy.
            $0.00
              Reply
              [-]
               10 days ago  

              Future Directions

              Researchers are exploring ways to overcome these limitations, including:

              • Building networks of receivers: Using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or ESP32 boards to build networks of receivers that can improve the accuracy of the beacons in sparsely populated areas.
              • Increasing the number of beacons: Deploying more beacons in the wild can improve the accuracy of the trackers, as more mobile devices will report locations to the central base.
              • Improving signal strength: Researchers are working on improving the signal strength of the beacons, which can reduce positional errors and improve overall accuracy.
              $0.00
                Reply
                [-]
                 10 days ago  

                Real-World Applications

                The use of Bluetooth beacons in wildlife tracking has a wide range of potential applications in various fields, including:

                • Conservation: The beacons can be used to track the movements of endangered species, which can help conservationists develop more effective conservation strategies.
                $0.00
                  Reply
                  [-]
                   10 days ago  
                  • Research: The beacons can be used to track the movements of animals in various research settings, which can help scientists understand animal behavior and ecology.
                  • Monitoring: The beacons can be used to monitor the movements of animals in various environments, which can help researchers understand the impact of human activity on wildlife habitats.
                  $0.00
                    Reply