Portable Position Tracking Apparatus Power Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS-enabled tracking devices for animals face a trade-off between power consumption and accuracy, as high power usage shortens battery life, while reducing sampling rates compromises position tracking accuracy, especially for animals moving over long distances.
Innovation Solution
A portable position tracking apparatus and method that utilize a combination of triggers, available power, and historical position tracking data to selectively sample absolute positions, employing sensors like motion sensors, gyroscopes, and GPS systems, to optimize sampling frequency and accuracy while conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sampling rate is increased to improve tracking accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts GPS sampling frequency based on the animal's movement state. When motion is detected by the motion sensor, the GPS sampling rate is increased to capture accurate position data. When the animal is stationary, sampling is reduced or paused, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy during movement while conserving power during inactive periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sampling parameter (GPS sampling frequency) based on detected conditions. The electronic processing device monitors motion sensor output and adjusts the GPS sampling interval accordingly, transitioning between high-sampling mode during movement and low-sampling mode during stationary periods, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If GPS sampling rate is decreased to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts GPS sampling frequency based on the animal's movement state. When motion is detected by the motion sensor, the GPS sampling rate is increased to capture accurate position data. When the animal is stationary, sampling is reduced or paused, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy during movement while conserving power during inactive periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sampling parameter (GPS sampling frequency) based on detected conditions. The electronic processing device monitors motion sensor output and adjusts the GPS sampling interval accordingly, transitioning between high-sampling mode during movement and low-sampling mode during stationary periods, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and power consumption.
3Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend operation duration, then duration of action is improved, but device weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic GPS sampling rather than continuous sampling. The GPS receiver is activated at specific intervals determined by the electronic processing device based on motion detection, allowing the battery to operate in periodic bursts rather than continuously. This extends battery life without requiring a larger battery capacity, thus avoiding increased device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts GPS sampling frequency based on the animal's movement state. When motion is detected by the motion sensor, the GPS sampling rate is increased to capture accurate position data. When the animal is stationary, sampling is reduced or paused, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy during movement while conserving power during inactive periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable position tracking apparatus including a power supply, a position sensor that receives signals and uses the signals to determine an absolute position of the apparatus, a trigger sensor that detects a trigger, and an electronic processing device in communication with the position and trigger sensor that monitors the power supply to determine an available power, determines the trigger in response to a signal from the trigger sensor, in response to detection of the trigger, uses the available power to control operation of the position sensor to thereby selectively determine the absolute position, and stores an indication of a position of the apparatus in a store at least partially in accordance an absolute position.