RFLoRaWAN Tracking Device: Design, Components, and Vendors
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This page discusses the design and development of LoRaWAN Tracking Devices, including the hardware components typically used. It also provides a list of popular certified LoRaWAN Tracking Device manufacturers or vendors.
Introduction
This article explores tracking devices based on LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology. LoRaWAN is a low-power, long-range wireless communication system that operates in various frequency bands globally.
Tracking devices are useful for remotely monitoring the location of elderly people, children, or valuable consignments.
LoRaWAN Tracking Device Design
The following diagram illustrates a typical LoRaWAN Tracking Device block diagram.
As shown, the device generally consists of a microcontroller, a LoRaWAN transceiver IC, and a GPS/GNSS sensor. The tracking device communicates with the LoRaWAN network through a gateway and its infrastructure, which includes cloud-based servers.
A web or mobile application can be developed to track the device’s precise location as it moves.
Here’s a breakdown of how the tracking device works:
- GPS/GNSS IC: Provides latitude and longitude information to the microcontroller.
- Microcontroller: Stores the location data and transmits it to the LoRaWAN network using the transceiver IC.
- Mobile/Web Application: Retrieves the location information from the cloud.
- Cloud Services: Various companies offer cloud services for data storage and processing, including ThingSpeak, Google Cloud IoT Core, IBM Watson IoT Platform, SensorCloud, and Adafruit Cloud.
LoRaWAN Tracking Device Hardware Components
The following table outlines typical hardware components used in LoRaWAN Tracking Device development:
| Hardware components | Part Numbers or Model Numbers with description |
|---|---|
| Microcontroller | Available from companies such as STMicroelectronics, Microchip Technology, Renesas Electronics, etc. |
| LoRaWAN Transceiver | RN2483 from Microchip Technology Part Numbers SX1261, SX1262, SX1272, SX1276, SX1278 etc. from Semtech Corporation RE866A1 and RE866xx from Telit communication |
| GPS/GNSS IC | STA8088CWG and other ICs from STMicroelectronics Multi-GNSS Receiver chips (ePV7010B, ePV6010B) from FURUNO ELECTRIC CO.,LTD The MAX2769C from Maxim Integrated GPS/GLONASS LNA from Infineon Technologies GNSS receiver from NXP Semiconductor |
LoRaWAN Tracking Device from GlobalSat
GlobalSat (Taiwan) offers a LoRaWAN Tracking Device, model LT-100, with the following features:
- Supports Class A/Class C
- 3-axis accelerometer for motion sensing
- Help button for emergency situations
- Compact and battery-operated
- Real-time tracking capabilities
Applications: Asset tracking, personal monitoring of elderly people and children, pet tracking, etc.
LoRaWAN Tracking Device Manufacturers or Vendors
The following is a list of certified manufacturers or vendors of LoRaWAN Tracking Devices:
| Manufacturers | Description |
|---|---|
| GlobalSat, Taiwan | Specifications are as mentioned above. |
| Kolff Computer Supplies BV, Netherlands | TM-901 |
| 1M2M, Netherlands | Model : ED1608 Mail : info@1m2m.eu |
| Tracktio, Spain, UK, USA, South Africa | Offers tracking devices for outdoor and indoor use. Outdoor trackers are based on LoRa and Satellite, while indoor trackers are based on BLE and LoRa. |
| Seeed Technology Co., Ltd. | LoRaWAN GPS Tracker with 9-axis accelerometer-LGT92- 868MHz |
