SkyHound – Animal Tracker. System to track and find wild animals or lost pets. Using a very old technique using the transmission of radio signals to locate a transmitter attached to the animal of interest.
Principle of Operation
Collar Transmitter
The operator attaches a transmitter to an animal that gives off unique electromagnetic radio signals, which allows the animal to be located. Transmitters are available in a variety of forms and consist of an antenna, a power source, and the electronics required to produce a signal.
Receiver
The operator uses an antenna that is attached to a receiver, which is programmed to the transmitter’s frequency, to pick up the electromagnetic signals given off by the transmitter affixed to the target animal.
The receiver produces a tone that increases in loudness and/or has a visual signal strength indicator that pulses as the operator approaches the transmitter.
Photo by USGS
Aerial
The Yagi antenna contains 3 or 4 elements and is a strong, directional antenna commonly used to determine the location of a transmitter. The higher the antenna less interference from buildings and trees and allow the operator to exploit a larger area while tracking.
History
The idea of using tiny radio transmitters attached to animals to track those creatures occurred to several people in the 1950s when transistors were rapidly replacing vacuum tubes, thus minimizing the size of devices that could produce radio signals.
Platform for Deployment
Traditionally an operator with the directional aerial and receiver would hold the aerial up high to locate the transmission source. Aerial platforms have been used such as aircraft or helicopters.
Drones have been tried when off the shelf systems became available that could be modified. As electronic systems became more sophisticated and more compact to allow a drone to lift the aerial and receiver. It would seem this would be an ideal solution.
Sky Hound a radio tracking development project by Skylark Aerial Photography
Two years ago, a project was started to evaluate whether a low-cost radio tracker could be developed using the DJI Inspire as the platform.
MK 1 First Trials Radio Tracking
The first trials proved that a down link could be established using a 2.4ghz off the shelf key fob tracker system. Due to the growth of Skylark Aerial Photography the project was put on hold. In January 2020 the project was re visited and investment made to move the project forward.
Mk 2 SwellPro with directional aerial
The platform was changed to the SwellPro Splash 3 drone. A directional aerial was installed on the drone. Results showed a marked improvement allowing the drone top to locate a small key fob beacon from 200m away at 120ft altitude.
Mk 3 Drone with directional aerial, controller with radio tracking receiver and headset
Results have been very encouraging. Using custom made directional aerials and transmitters. The aerial allow an arc of detection between 100 degrees and 66 degrees depending on which Yagi aerial is used. The tone sound of the transmitter increases as the zenith of the arc is detected where the greatest rf energy from the transmitter is detected.
Micro transmitters for attachment to the collar or within the collar
Mk4 with two improved directional aerials
More Trials for SkyHound – Animal Tracker
A season of trials will begin to perfect the system. We have have been happy with the first sets of trials. A FPV camera system will be installed to the tracker payload. It is anticpated that the system will be able to locate a collar transmitter from around 2km away.
If you would like to know more details of the project please contact Simon asking to hear about SkyHound at:-
simon@skylark-aerialphotography.co.uk
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