What exactly is pet navigation?
Pet location monitoring systems monitor the position and status of pets both indoors and outside using IoT-enabled collars or attachable devices, similar to current tags. Pet owners can use tracking collars or collar attachments to check in on their dogs while they are in the care of strangers, such as dogwalkers, to locate them if they go missing, and to assess their pets’ overall activity levels during the day.
How Does It Work?
There are a few different types of pet tracking systems. All of these trackers function by either integrating technology into a pet’s collar or connecting a gadget to an existing collar. The range of operation, battery life, and features are all determined by the technology used. Cellular, Bluetooth, and GPS are the most prevalent technologies used in IoT-enabled tracking systems, but RF trackers are also popular — albeit they have their own drawbacks.
RF pet trackers offer a longer range and use less battery than many modern systems, but they are large and require a separate transponder to read the signal sent by the collar. RF trackers, on the other hand, might be difficult to use without the addition of GPS, offering a “closer-and-further” reading rather than indicating the pet’s real position.
The most prevalent IoT-enabled pet trackers are cellular trackers. These trackers often communicate data back to the owner over existing cellular or wifi networks, which may be accessed via a smart device or computer. Because these trackers often include a SIM card and must connect to cellular networks, they frequently include monthly fees to keep the connection active. Although cellular trackers can’t pinpoint a pet’s exact position to within a block or two, they may provide an owner with a decent starting point — perhaps even within calling reach. They can be useful for tracking a pet’s whereabouts in real time and maintaining a simple record of where your pet has gone, especially if your pet wears a collar.
Bluetooth has the shortest range of all the main pet tracking technologies, making it ideal for monitoring a pet’s activity levels rather than locating a missing pet. Bluetooth trackers can use other users’ phones to recognise pets and relay their whereabouts in heavily crowded locations.
Key Advantages of IoT-Powered Pet Tracking
When your pet is in the care of dog walkers or sitters, keep a watch on them to make sure they are where you want them to be.
Keep track of your pet’s activities over time to aid in weight loss or to verify that your pet is receiving enough exercise.
Track and monitor the whereabouts of pets in real time, allowing you to locate your pet without having to rely on someone else to locate and transport them to a veterinarian or shelter.
Create geofences around certain places, such as your yard or a nearby park, and get fast warnings if your pet wanders or exits an intended area.