Wildlife Animal Tracker
A bite-size GPS device implanted in a rhinoceros horn, connected to Sigfox network - a low-power, wide-area network that is ideal for tracking animals in remote areas.
With up to 3 years of battery life, it provides real-time tracking and monitoring to protect them from poachers.
YEAR
2018
CLIENT
Now Rhino
EXPERTISE
Electronic Design
Firmware Developement
Prototyping
Certification
Testing & Qualification
Mass Production
The Challenge
We partnered with a conservation group working to protect endangered rhinoceroses from poaching. Their challenge was clear but complex: they needed a reliable way to track and monitor wild rhinos in remote regions, often with limited connectivity and harsh environmental conditions.
Existing tracking solutions had serious limitations, too bulky and easily damaged while satellite trackers came with high costs and short battery life. What the team needed was a small, durable, and energy-efficient device that could operate for years without intervention, a techchnology that could survive the wild.
Our Approach
Our team started by rethinking how wildlife tracking could be done. Instead of the usual external collars, we designed a bite-sized GPS device small enough to be implanted directly into the rhino’s horn to keep it hidden, protected, and tamper-proof.
We engineered the device around Sigfox, a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) that’s ideal for transmitting small amounts of data over long distances even in remote areas with no traditional cellular coverage. This choice allowed the tracker to operate on minimal energy while still sending real-time location updates.
From there, we tackled the power challenge. Our electronic and firmware engineers optimized every circuit and line of code to maximize battery life. We also worked closely with the client throughout development, gathering feedback from field tests and refining each prototype until we achieved the perfect balance of size, strength, and functionality.
The result was a tracker capable of lasting up to three years on a single battery, without any maintenance.
The Results
The result was a compact, rugged tracker that could operate where few devices could survive. Once implanted, it seamlessly transmitted location data through the Sigfox network, giving rangers and conservation teams real-time insights into the movement of each rhino.
With this information, teams could quickly detect unusual behavior or sudden changes in movement and early warning signs of poaching activity. The long battery life meant fewer human interventions, less stress on the animals, and lower maintenance costs overall.
For us, this project was more than an engineering challenge. It was an opportunity to apply technology in service of something greater to help protect one of the world’s most endangered species.
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