Firmware Optimization of a Long Range Wireless tracking device for animal tracking_REP2025

Firmware Optimization of a Long Range Wireless tracking device for animal tracking_REP2025

Lead Supervisor:
Professor Aldina Franco

Locations:
University of East Anglia

Duration:
6 weeks

Suitable undergraduate degrees:
Computing Sciences, Informatics, Mathematics

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Project background

The demand and use of tracking devices to collect information remotely and with minimum supervision has increased exponentially in recent decades. Among the applications the tracking of animals and environmental data with sensors has been revolutionised due to new technological advances that enable the acquisition of high spatial and temporal resolution data. Tracking devices, its associated sensors and the high-resolution data obtained have opened a new frontier and enabled researchers to answer new questions in environmental science, geophysics, animal ecology, evolution and physiology.

The emergence of technologies for Internet of Things (IoT) brings significant advances and benefits to studies that require remotely acquired data.  At UEA, in collaboration with a Swiss based company and Movetech Telemetry, we developed a new tracking system that uses Long Range (LoRa) data transmission to send GPS location, acceleration, magnetometer and gyroscope information. It uses a high-performance wireless mesh, fully bi-directional and remotely programmable which makes it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications (e.g. smart buildings). It is optimized for low power consumption, hence low weight devices can be assembled which is ideal for small animal tracking.

This REP project will be done in collaboration with Movetech Telemetry https://movetech-telemetry.com/, the Universities in Lisbon and Porto, the British Trust for Ornithology and the electronics workshop at UEA. The REP student will join this collaborative team and will have the opportunity to discuss the methods and results with the team. The student will be given access to the firmware on the devices and will learn to programme and test the firmware and software. The project includes firmware implementation and experimentation.

The software controls the parameters of data acquisition on the device contained within the transmission which will determine the budget and time-on-air. By optimising this, we can maximise the battery life versus in a range of environments (e.g. forested areas or off-shore wind farms). At present the device does not enable different patterns of data acquisition with time of day and we want to change this feature and test it. We envision 3-4 weeks for firmware implementation and 2-3 weeks of tests and communication of the results with the multidisciplinary team.

Eligibilty criteria

Students must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below to apply for a REP:

  • Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters) – note that students in in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible;
  • Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (please see the relevant text in the Terms and conditions for training funding and associated guidance for further information); and
  • have the right to work in the UK.

 

Students from outside the UK who do not already have right to work in the UK, should not apply.

How to apply

The deadline for applications will be 12:00 on Monday 19 May 2025.  

In order to be considered for a placement, please apply to aries.dtp@uea.ac.uk providing the following:

  • A supporting statement explaining your motivation for applying for this project. Please include answers to the following questions:
    • which project are you applying for?
    • why have you applied for this project (e.g. what interested you about this project, what in particular made you want to undertake this research)?
    • what do you hope to achieve by undertaking this placement (e.g. is it for experience, to gain skills, to develop your interests)?
    • what skills do you have that make you an ideal candidate for this placement (e.g. what skills have you developed during your degree that might apply)?
    • what do you hope to do when you complete your degree (e.g. have you considered a working in scientific research in the future, or is this your first experience)?
  • A recent CV
  • A reference from your personal tutor (please ask your tutor to send this to us directly)
  • An interim transcript if available
  • Please also complete the online EDI form (this form is a mandatory part of the application process, but contains ‘prefer not to say’ options for all questions asked)
Selection process

·  Applications are screened for eligibility

·  Applications are forwarded to supervisors (the EDI form is not included)

·  Supervisors shortlist candidates and interview for the placement.

Candidates will be scored according to the following criteria:

  • Fit to project (e.g. your current skills, area of study, interests)
  • Enthusiasm for environmental research (e.g. what you hope to achieve through undertaking this placement, why you chose this project in particular)
  • Evidence of suitability to undertake a research placement (e.g. evidence from your tutor reference, transcript, and CV that you are an engaged student)

Successful candidates will be informed by Friday 13th June 2025