Multi-Connectivity Pet Tracker: Global GPS Tracking with BLE, 4G, 2G & LoRa
Development of a versatile pet tracking device supporting four connectivity technologies - BLE beacon for indoor tracking, 4G LTE for real-time urban tracking, 2G fallback for extended coverage, and LoRa for rural/remote areas. Achieved 45-day battery life with IP68 waterproofing.
The Challenge
A European pet technology company needed a universal pet tracker that would work reliably across diverse environments - from urban apartments to rural farmlands - while maintaining extended battery life and surviving rough outdoor conditions.
Multi-Environment Tracking
Traditional GPS trackers fail indoors and consume excessive power. The solution needed seamless indoor-outdoor tracking with intelligent network switching.
Impact: 95% coverage targetGlobal Connectivity
Different regions have varying network availability. Urban areas have 4G, but rural areas often only have 2G or require LoRa for long-range communication.
Impact: 180+ countriesExtended Battery Life
Pet owners forget to charge devices. The tracker needed 30+ days of battery life while providing real-time location updates.
Impact: 30+ day requirementDurability Requirements
Pets are rough on equipment. The device needed to survive water immersion, impacts, extreme temperatures, and constant movement.
Impact: IP68 + 2m drop testOur Solution
We engineered a compact, rugged pet tracker with intelligent multi-network connectivity that automatically selects the optimal communication technology based on location, signal strength, and power availability.
System Architecture
Intelligent multi-connectivity architecture with seamless network handoff and adaptive power management.
Tracking Device
- Multi-constellation GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou)
- BLE 5.0 beacon for indoor positioning
- 4G LTE Cat-M1/NB-IoT module
- 2G GSM fallback radio
- LoRa transceiver (868/915 MHz)
- 9-axis IMU for activity tracking
Mobile Application
- Real-time GPS tracking with history
- Geofencing with customizable zones
- Activity monitoring and health insights
- Multi-pet management dashboard
- Lost pet community alerts
Cloud Platform
- Multi-protocol IoT gateway
- Real-time location processing
- Predictive location algorithms
- Global cellular connectivity management
- LoRa network server integration
Custom Hardware Design
| MCU | nRF9160 (LTE-M/NB-IoT + GPS) |
| Secondary MCU | STM32WL (LoRa + BLE) |
| GNSS | u-blox M10 (multi-constellation) |
| Battery | 800mAh Li-Poly (rechargeable) |
| Dimensions | 42mm x 32mm x 12mm |
| Weight | 28g (with collar attachment) |
| Protection | IP68, MIL-STD-810G |
Intelligent Firmware Architecture
- Adaptive network selection algorithm (BLE -> LoRa -> 4G -> 2G)
- Motion-based GPS duty cycling for power optimization
- BLE beacon scanning for indoor positioning
- Geofence boundary detection with instant alerts
- Activity classification (walking, running, resting, playing)
- Secure OTA updates across all network types
- Local data buffering during connectivity gaps
- Anti-theft mode with tamper detection
Implementation Timeline
Phase 1: Architecture & Prototyping
8 weeks- Multi-network architecture design
- Component selection and RF planning
- Power budget analysis
- First prototype with 4G + GPS
Phase 2: Hardware Development
14 weeks- Multi-layer PCB design (6-layer HDI)
- RF optimization for 4 radios
- Antenna design (LTE, GPS, LoRa, BLE)
- Mechanical design with IP68 enclosure
- 3 prototype iterations
Phase 3: Firmware Development
16 weeks- Network selection state machine
- GNSS power optimization algorithms
- BLE mesh indoor positioning
- LoRaWAN Class A implementation
- Motion detection and activity classification
Phase 4: App & Cloud Development
12 weeks- iOS and Android app development
- Real-time location streaming
- Cloud IoT platform deployment
- LoRa network server integration
Phase 5: Certification & Production
10 weeks- FCC, CE, IC certifications
- Carrier certifications (AT&T, Verizon, etc.)
- Production tooling and DFM
- Factory test fixture development
Results & Impact
The multi-connectivity pet tracker achieved market-leading battery life and coverage, resulting in rapid adoption and becoming the #1 selling pet tracker in 12 European countries.
Battery Life
vs 5-7 days for competitors
GPS Accuracy
Multi-constellation precision
Indoor Accuracy
BLE beacon positioning
Global Coverage
Countries supported
Units Deployed
First 24 months
Pet Recovery Rate
Lost pets found within 24h
“Rapid Circuitry delivered what seemed impossible - a tracker that works everywhere with incredible battery life. The intelligent network switching is seamless, and our customers love that they never lose their pets.”
CTO
Client Pet Technology Company
Technologies Used
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