GPS spoon for livestock tracking

2009/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia
• Abeltzaintza

A spoon with integrated GPS system allows farmers to know from any computer the exact location of the animals found on the mountain.

The aim of this project, launched by the Mendinet association, has been to improve the quality of life of farmers. And they usually have to go to the mountain to see where the animals are and control them. It is therefore about knowing the location of the animals at all times to facilitate the work of the farmers.

In the case of mares, for example, a device is enough, since they always go in group. Therefore, the spoon is applied to a mare and, if it is located, the farmers can know where they are all, since the others will have at their side.

The project has been developed for two years by the association Mendinet, in collaboration with the technology center Neiker-Tecnalia. They have created a spoon with GPS antenna, mobile phone and built-in battery.

The GPS antenna is located at the top of the animal and the signal reaches a small spoon device. This device processes the information and then sends information via mobile phone to the server where the web is located. The information is then viewed by users of the website.

This information will be sent to the web twice a day, in the morning and at noon. The user will be able to see the location of the animal in the place in an aerial photo represented by a point.

The spoon also includes additional information on the number and speed of circulation of animals, as well as the remaining battery of the spoon. However, as for the battery life, there is something to improve. It only lasts more than 15 days.

The spoon developed by the association Mendinet has been based on a new pig spoon developed by the University of Extremadura and the mobile phone company Orange.

If the operation of the product was correct, it would be sold around 200 euros. Several farmers who have tasted the spoon in the places of Gorbea, Izki, Aizkorri and Aralar have already shown their interest in buying it.