LIA collar tracks pets over Meshtastic with ESP32-S3 and LoRa
Designer Jon G Aguado built the do-it-yourself collar around an ESP32-S3, a LoRa radio and a GPS/GNSS receiver, housed in a 3D printed case.
Jon G Aguado has unveiled LIA, a pet tracking collar that runs on the Meshtastic LoRa mesh network and is built around an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, according to Hackaday.
The device uses a custom PCB carrying the ESP32-S3, a LoRa radio, a GPS/GNSS receiver and a charge controller. It draws power from either an 18650 cell or a 5023450 pouch Li-ion cell, and the electronics sit inside a 3D printed enclosure.
LIA charges through a magnetic 4-pin USB pogo connector, a choice aimed at improving weather resistance. The tracker offers a high power mode that takes a location fix every 30 seconds and lights two bright LEDs, and a low power mode that takes a fix roughly every minute.
Location reporting can also be switched off entirely, so the collar can run without transmitting positions.
According to Hackaday, most commercial pet trackers require a subscription or a network connection to work, which motivated the project.
Quick answers
What hardware does the LIA pet tracker use?
A custom PCB with an ESP32-S3, a LoRa radio, a GPS/GNSS receiver and a charge controller, powered by an 18650 cell or a 5023450 pouch Li-ion cell.
How often does LIA report a location?
In high power mode it takes a fix every 30 seconds; in low power mode roughly every minute. Reporting can also be switched off entirely.
How does the LIA collar charge?
Through a magnetic 4-pin USB pogo connector, which the design uses to improve weather resistance.