I am one of the students of the Public Laboratory for Science class at Umass Amherst in collaboration with the five colleges. The project that I am making is  a GPS device set on a collar using cheap technology and open source software to track animals. Whether used for tracking domestic animals ( dogs) or wild animals. 

 The tracking device will be based on a TinyDuino. For data logging, i will need a **micro SD TinyShield** and **micro sd card **  to get data from GPS TinyShield that is going to be programmed through the Arduino ( there is a TinyDuino GPS Data Logger sketch that should be uploaded to the TinyDuino using the Arduino IDE.  The sketch should be adjusted, the Software Serial library files  should be replaced. A maker that created a GPS collar for their cat shared the code for doing that on http://makezine.com/projects/make-37/gps-cat-tracker-2/

 If used for a domestic animal ( that we know is coming back home) the tracking data could be logged and stored in a micro SD card and then viewed on an application in the computer like Google earth. But for wild animals tracking, the data should be accessed simultaneously through the internet, and that is one of the main improvements that i want to add to this device. A **Tinyduino** cannot handle an internet connection, so i will have to add the **Arduino Ethernet Shield** that allows an Arduino board to connect to the internet. 

  One of the main challenges of this project is to keep the device as light as possible so it could be handled by smaller animals. So to power the system, i need a small and light battery that can run the system long enough. A small rechargeable lithium ion battery can give me up to 6 hours of logging. This could be enough for domestic animals tracking.  To study the movement of wild animals we might want logging that can go for weeks. So i though that a solar powered device could be the best idea for a self rechargeable device, but this would be the solution only and particularly for animals of medium size that live in deserted/warm areas.  

 I thought about battery saving by turning off GPS logging when the animal is immobile. I will have to search on how to program the Arduino to stop the data logging after a set period of time that returns the same location. 

I found this great experiment by this man called Nick ( http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11497  ) that found the best way to significantly lower battery use by the Arduino using a **"bare bones" board** and programming the Arduino on different sleep modes. I will have to study his conclusions more closely!

The tracking device should be waterproof. The best way to make a perfect sized waterproof container is to use a 3d printer. And a PVC Polyester collar would be the cheapest waterproof material that could be used. 

I have a list of the parts that i need to make the device:

• TinyDuino Basic Kit item ( #ASK1001-R-P1from tiny-circuits.com ) : It includes the TinyDuino processor board, TinyShield USB programmer board, protoboard, and mounting screws.

• GPS TinyShield ( #ASD2501-R from TinyCircuits )

• Arduino Ethernet Shield Rev3 WITHOUT PoE Module

• microSD adapter TinyShield #ASD2201-R from TinyCircuits

• Battery, lithium ion polymer, 3.7V, 150mAh ( + Lithium ion battery charger)

• JST-PH battery extension cable