Pet trackers typically use GPS and BeiDou satellite positioning, supplemented by Wi-Fi positioning, LBS base station positioning, and AGPS-assisted positioning to achieve multi-level indoor and outdoor positioning. Furthermore, some newer trackers employ self-organizing network technology, independent of public mobile networks and their associated service fees. A single small base station can cover a range of approximately 2.5 kilometers and support simultaneous tracking of multiple pets. Their positioning accuracy can reach 2.5 meters, or within a range of 5-10 meters.
Early data transmission relied on 2G networks, but now 4G LTE, Cat M1, and NB-IoT low-power wide-area network technologies are commonly used for data transmission, supporting real-time tracking. Due to the gradual phasing out of 2G networks, the technology has evolved towards NB-IoT combined with Wi-Fi and base station positioning.
Core hardware, such as certain NB-IoT chips, features low power consumption (0.9μA in PSM mode), small size (13×14mm), and high integration, making them suitable for trackers. The devices achieve power consumption control by employing low-power chips and communication solutions (such as NB-IoT and Cat M1), with some devices achieving standby times of several months or even a year. The industry is experiencing rapid technological iteration, and some products under development are working to extend the locator's battery life to one month.
