DESIGN OF AN ANIMAL TRACKING AND TELEMETRY SYSTEM

Abstract

This paper was prepared as part of the team design competition for a graduate level course given at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand. It presents a high level design of an automated telemetering system for tracking and monitoring a number of land-based animals as small as a rabbit. The primary purpose of the system is to monitor both desirable and undesirable species of wildlife in the New Zealand bush in order to better understand their living habits and environmental requirements. The typical conditions monitored are body temperature, moisture levels, light intensity, physical activity, and heart rate. All critical aspects of the telemetering system have been specified, including the sensors, transmitter/receiver, and telemetry packet and frame design. A calculation of the link budget for the system has been performed.