Prototype Device for Cow Tracking and Data Logging Using GPS and IoT
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Abstract
This study aimed to develop a prototype device for tracking and recording cow movements using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to address the challenges of free-range cattle farming, where cows are often at risk of straying or getting lost. The prototype device consisted of a NodeMCU ESP32 TTGO T-Call (SIM800L) and a GPS NEO-6M module for processing and transmitting data to Google Sheets, with results visualized in Google Data Studio. A 30-day field experiment was conducted with cows belonging to small-scale farmers in Nakhon Phanom Province. The device successfully operated continuously with a battery life of approximately 18 h per charge and required 1.5–3.5 h for full recharging. GPS data showed high accuracy compared with Google Maps, with an average error of about 3–5 m, which is sufficient for field applications. The system recorded a total of 6,761 data points, covering an accumulated distance of 120.96 km. The cows’ daily walking distance ranged from 0.70 to 6.56 km, while the farthest distance from the barn ranged between 0.03 and 1.75 km. The results confirm that the developed prototype is accurate, low-cost, and practical for small-scale farmers, reducing the risk of livestock loss and improving cattle management efficiency.
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