Herddogg, which uses IoT tags and connectivity to track livestock and other animals across large landscapes, unveiled StarDogg, a direct-to-satellite version of its Animal Traceability platform that uses Swarm Technologies’ satellite connectivity to the cloud rather than cellular connectivity.
Melissa Brandao, founder and chief revenue officer of HerdDogg, told Fierce Electronics by email that StarDogg will prove particularly useful for ranchers operating on remote ranchland, leased lands or government-managed lands where cellular is not a viable option.
Developed in collaboration with Swarm Technologies, StarDogg integrates Swarm’s satellite modem, which transmits and receives data via Swarm’s satellite network, into HerdDogg’s DoggBone tag reader. Whenever an animal with a HerdDogg DoggTag Bluetooth sensor is within range of a StarDogg transceiver, it offloads tracking and behavior insights about the animal, and then transmits it via satellite to HerdDogg’s cloud-based livestock data platform.
Another potential satellite option would be to use GPS-enabled collars, but Bluetooth sensors are much less bulky, less costly and have longer battery life, Brandao said.
“Compared to a GPS collar, a Bluetooth ear tag is smaller, more aerodynamic, and sleeker (collars can get caught in things),” she said. “Our DoggTags are a fraction of the weight and cost of GPS collars, and deliver much longer battery life (5 years vs. 6-12 months. In addition to the hardware, the data plan is approximately $10/month.”
She added, “What we heard from ranchers is that they need a better tracking system with more flexibility. We enable sites on the property to be gateways or portals, so a rancher knows which animals are present and which are not at these various check-in locations across the ranch.”
When an animal comes within range of a StarDogg station, Herddogg records the time, location, and identification of the particular animal. This information is uploaded via satellite to the cloud-based HerdDogg Animal Traceability Platform for analysis. Brandao explained, “If the StarDogg is located at a water trough, for example, we can gather check-in information: How many animals showed up and when? Bulls or heifers? Who was with whom? We can also make inferences based on behavior. Which animals were not with the herd? For these animals, have there been other patterns that might indicate sickness or injury?”
The new offering was developed in collaboration with Swarm, which currently has 120 satellites in orbit providing 100% global coverage, and is planning to have another 30 in orbit by sometime next year.
StarDogg is now available for pre-order, with first customer shipments starting in the second quarter of next year. Brandao said, adding that Herddogg has “several existing customers in Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming who want to expand their current range/operations and who need satellite for that.”
RELATED: MachineQ, CoreKinect team for LoRaWAN-based IoT, starting with vehicle tracking