This Bachelor’s thesis, carried out by Isabelle Fredriksen at Blekinge Institute of Technology in collaboration with Embedded Art, aims to developa robust and user-friendly GPS tracker housing for cattle. The projectfocuses on improving livestock management through real-time monitoringand health surveillance, aiming to enhance animal welfare and operationalefficiency on farms.

The project aims to design an innovative GPS housing that ensures secureattachment in a collar around a cow’s neck. It also seeks to optimize material selection for durability and minimal signal loss, as well as to develop anopening mechanism that protects internal components from environmentalimpacts. The project followed a structured product development processconsisting of a preliminary study, requirement specification, concept generation, concept evaluation, concept development, prototype development,and final evaluation. Through interviews and market surveys, importantrequirements for the product were identified, including ergonomic design tominimize stress and discomfort for the animals, as well as durable materialsthat can withstand various weather conditions.

Three different design concepts were developed and evaluated. Several design iterations were assessed through a combination of practical tests oncattle and technical experiments, including tests for water resistance andsignal strength. The final design resulted in a modular housing, optimizedfor prolonged use without frequent maintenance. It includes a tightly sealing lid and robust fastening to ensure water resistance and protection ofinternal components.

For future work, additional material testing should be performed to ensurethe final material choice is optimal for the intended environment. There isalso potential to integrate solar cells to extend battery life and reduce theneed for frequent battery replacements.