Sensors (May 2009)

A Heterogeneous Wireless Identification Network for the Localization of Animals Based on Stochastic Movements

  • Ivana Raos,
  • Nelson Dopico,
  • Santiago Zazo,
  • Álvaro Gutiérrez,
  • Carlos González,
  • Javier Jiménez-Leube

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s90503942
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 5
pp. 3942 – 3957

Abstract

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The improvement in the transmission range in wireless applications without the use of batteries remains a significant challenge in identification applications. In this paper, we describe a heterogeneous wireless identification network mostly powered by kinetic energy, which allows the localization of animals in open environments. The system relies on radio communications and a global positioning system. It is made up of primary and secondary nodes. Secondary nodes are kinetic-powered and take advantage of animal movements to activate the node and transmit a specific identifier, reducing the number of batteries of the system. Primary nodes are battery-powered and gather secondary-node transmitted information to provide it, along with position and time data, to a final base station in charge of the animal monitoring. The system allows tracking based on contextual information obtained from statistical data.

Keywords