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BlueTrak

BlueTrak. Clement Song Shan Wu. University of Virginia. Animal Tracking . Animal tracking is useful in many areas Protecting endangered species Migration patterns Habitats Lifestyle. Uses of Animal Tracking. Habitat analysis of animals

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BlueTrak

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  1. BlueTrak Clement Song Shan Wu University of Virginia

  2. Animal Tracking • Animal tracking is useful in many areas • Protecting endangered species • Migration patterns • Habitats • Lifestyle

  3. Uses of Animal Tracking • Habitat analysis of animals • Study of parenting behavior during rearing of young auklets • the protection of elephants from ivory poachers in Kenya • Tracking animal health condition (Beef industry)

  4. Current Methods for Animal Tracking • Remote devices attached to animals to collect data • Methods for remote data retrieval • Satellite • Data transferred directly from animal to satellite • Problems: Expensive, obstruction of signal • VHF (Very High Frequency) radio transmission • Problems: physical following of devices, limited range/frequency

  5. Problems with Current System • Data only on individual animals • Restriction on data type • Knowledge of animal interaction can better our understanding of animal communities • Inconvenient data collection • Availability of sounds, images, potentially videos will provide even more information to scientists on living environments, interaction characteristics, habits • For VHF tags, animals must be physically followed to collect data • Chances of device retrieval low • Loss of data • $5000 (price for basic GPS collar with satellite connection) down the drain if tagged animal is not recovered • Satellite signals are attenuated under dense canopies and at low altitudes • Expensive!!!

  6. The Ideal Tracking system • an automated system to gather detailed data on interactions with resources, competitors, and predators. • [Interaction] data would be needed for modeling vertebrate food chains and webs … with a view to predictive conservation - Robert E. Kenward, expert in telemetry

  7. What Is BlueTrak? • The BlueTrak system uses Bluetooth wireless communication technology to collect information, relay information, and deliver information.

  8. What is Bluetooth? • Wireless communication technology • PAN (Personal Area Network) • Major advantage: Ad-hoc networking

  9. System at a Glance • Physical Components • Bluetooth enable mobile device • Bluetooth enabled Access Points (stationary) • Information Relay • Mobile devices within range with each other exchange stored information • Mobile devices within range of access point transfer stored information, including those of other devices • Recording Interactions • - The event that two devices are within range is recorded

  10. Animal Tracking System Overview

  11. Design Innovations • Autonomous system • Information collected by mobile devices themselves via information relay • Minimizes human-intervention • Ability to directly study interactions (application to animal tracking) • Professional patent search returned nothing identical

  12. Animal Tracking Market Potential • 9000 satellite devices active in March 2002 • 3000 active for animal tracking • Numerous radio devices used during same period • Expert scientist opinions • Autonomic system would be an excellent bonus • Directly collecting animal interaction data would be invaluable to research

  13. Animal Tracking Development Costs Mobile device Access Point

  14. Market Analysis Retail Price • BlueTrak system • 1 Access point - $65 development cost • 7 mobile devices - $455 development cost • Total - $520 development cost • Retail Price - $520 x 4 = $2080 • Compare to current systems • 30 BlueTrak systems (210 mobile devices, 30 access points) is $62,400 • 210 current satellite devices would cost $1,050,000 • BlueTrak costs 1/18 current price

  15. Application for Nursing Homes • Efficient way of monitoring physical conditions of elderly residents in nursing homes and equivalent communities. • Vital data on the elderly in these communities need to be recorded regularly

  16. Aiding the Elderly Market Potential • 17,000 nursing homes in the United States • 1.5 million residents • 6.6 million aged 65 or older need aid in at least one daily activity • 65 million Americans over the age of 65 • Inexpensive and reliable way for family members to keep track of loved ones’ conditions • Extensive market growth in next 30 years – aging of the Baby Boom Generation

  17. Why BlueTrak? – Competitive Advantages • Animal Tracking • interactions logged • Automatic system utilizes information relay • Aiding the Elderly • Low-profile, unobtrusive • Information relay – “reduce expenses and hassle of multiple fixed base stations” - Brent Mathews, Darden GSBA student • Low power consumption • Inexpensive solution

  18. E-Team Members • Faculty advisor in Biomedical Engineering • Tremendous help for biomedical applications of BlueTrak • 4 undergraduate Computer Engineers • 2 have extensive background in programming • 2 extremely familiar with patent pursuit and business development • External mentors • Engineering faculty, MBA student

  19. Timeline • Phase I (done) • Software system prototype, Preliminary patent search • Applied for NCIIA grant • Phase II (done) • Provisional patent application (Granted September 2002) • Future • Uncertain future for Bluetooth • Unexpected costs of integration

  20. Acknowledgements • Those who have provided us support and technical advice • Dr. Mircea R. Stan, UVA Electrical Engineering • Dr. Ronald D. Williams, UVA Electrical Engineering • Mr. Harry C. Powell, UVA Electrical Engineering • Dr. Stephen G. Wilson, UVA Electrical Engineering • Dr. James H. Aylor, UVA Electrical Engineering • Dr. Herman H. Shugart, UVA Environmental Sciences • Dr. William F. Walker, UVA Biomedical Engineering • TCC professors and TAs

  21. Thank you for your time!! • Questions?

  22. Financial Projection • Combined market • 30,000,000 + 150,000,000 = $180,000,000 • First two years 3% = $5.4 Million/year • Annual growth = 5% • After 5 years, $7 Million/year

  23. Licensing VS. Selling • Licensing (sell ideas) • Sit back to collect royalty while working on new ideas • More realistic

  24. Future of BlueTrak • Microcontroller to integrate Bluetooth chip and collar control • Customizable tracking device with varying accessories • Sensors for sound, image • Automatic collar-expansion to accommodate for growth • Less conspicuous system • Accessories for image, audio, even video

  25. Problems with Current System • Data only on individual animals • Restriction on data type • Knowledge of animal interaction can better our understanding of animal communities • Inconvenient data collection • Availability of sounds, images, potentially videos will provide even more information to scientists on living environments, interaction characteristics, habits • For VHF tags, animals must be physically followed to collect data • Chances of device retrieval low • Loss of data • $5000 (price for basic GPS collar with satellite connection) down the drain if tagged animal is not recovered • Satellite signals are attenuated under dense canopies and at low altitudes • Expensive!!!

  26. Project Goals: • Eliminate the need to physically follow animals for data collection • Automated collection of data • Provide ability to log animal interactions. • Increase lifespan of tracking device and the frequency of data logging while reducing power consumption. • Provide customization • Simplify device retrieval

  27. The Ideal Tracking system • capable of 10m location resolution • an automated system to gather detailed data on interactions with resources, competitors, and predators. • [Interaction] data would be needed for modeling vertebrate food chains and webs … with a view to predictive conservation - Robert E. Kenward, expert in telemetry

  28. Our Claims • A system of logging animal interaction • BlueTrak system using Bluetooth technology in a system of relayed information • The apparatus of the mobile device • The apparatus of the access point

  29. Target Markets • Primary • Research Scientists • Livestock Industry(Cattle Industry) • Secondary • Household pet owners • Tertiary • hunters, hunting parks • Price/system 1/16 of current

  30. Why Us?? • Innovative product idea using cutting-edge technology • Beneficial to scientific communities that address environmental concerns • Excellent market potential • Dedicated development team with technical and entrepreneur experience

  31. Funding Needs • Prototyping • Materials • Tools (CAD, machinery) • Detailed market research • Determine product derivatives and uses • Technical/business consulting • Patent Application • Business startup

  32. Price Break Down 1 access point + 7 mobile devices (piconet) • 8 micro-controllers = $160 • 8 Bluetooth chips = $40 • Storage = $100 • Other electronics = $160 • 7 Collars = $70 • 7 GPS chips = $70 Total (manufacturing): $600 Market Price: $2400 Current implementation(210 devices) $1,050,000 30 BlueTrak systems (210 devices with 30 access points) $72,000 (1/15 of current)

  33. Price Breakdown (Conti.) • Current implementation(210 devices) $1,050,000 = 3,500 BlueTrak devices at $300 each

  34. Price Break Down (conti.) • Optional Satellite system on access point, $3000 each, total: • 90,000 + 72,000 = $162,600 (1/6 of current) • Accessories (micro-phone, camera, sensors), $100 each

  35. Market Competition • eMerge Interactive, Inc • Animal tracking, data management, and supply procurement services to the U.S. beef production industry. • “For the nine months ended 9/30/01, revenues rose 89% to $898.6 million” Yahoo Finance

  36. How the System Works Access Point

  37. Current State • Software specifications completed • Hardware design proposed • Patent search complete (12 similar patents) • 6,315,719 -- Medical monitoring of animals • 6,198,394 -- remote transceiver monitoring using GPS • 6,347,095 -- Bluetooth proximity based networking • 5,857,433 -- animal GPS tracking

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