Nordic helps cellular IoT help scientists track wildlife with lightweight sensor devices

Druid Technologies DEBUT ULTRA 5G tracker uses nRF9160 SiP to send location, environment and behavior data to the cloud via LTE-M/NB-IoT network

OSLO, Norway – September 14, 2022 – Chinese company Druid Technology has released a wildlife tracking solution based on cellular IoT and Bluetooth® LE, helping scientists use wireless sensor technology to better understand the mysteries of nature and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. The “DEBUT ULTRA 5G” platform is specifically designed to support the work of scientific research institutions, government departments, national parks and reserves, and non-profit organizations.

The lightweight (1.9 g) and compact (19 x 14.5 x 6.8 mm) DEBUT (Devices of Biological Ubiquitous Telecommunication) ULTRA 5G is a smart terminal and biological wearable device for wildlife science research, using built-in light, temperature and air pressure sensors to evaluate the microenvironment around the organism, especially during the flight phase. It can also monitor and record longitude and latitude, altitude, speed and acceleration data, and can be expanded to any data collection application with strict device weight restrictions.

Nordic's nRF9160 low-power SiP with LTE-M/NB-IoT modem and GNSS acts as the main processor for integrated sensors. The nRF9160 is a highly integrated device in a small package that includes a 64 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M33 processor, large Flash and RAM, modem, PMIC, GNSS and RF front end, making it ideal for space-constrained applications. The Arm processor provides ample computing power to perform edge computing for on-device behavioral analysis. The SiP also provides GNSS positioning and cellular IoT connectivity to transmit location, environmental and behavioral data to the cloud.

In addition, Nordic nRF52840 SoC provides low-power Bluetooth connectivity to work with related smartphone applications, allowing users to control and configure DEBUT ULTRA 5G devices and visualize the location, trajectory, surrounding environment and behavioral analysis of animals. The solution is powered by a lightweight rechargeable photovoltaic battery and energy management system, which can achieve unlimited battery life during its service life.

“We chose Nordic’s nRF9160 SiP because of its compact size and dual-mode LTE-M/NB-IoT communication capabilities, powerful processor, low power consumption, large memory capacity, and OTA-DFU (Over-the-Air Device Firmware Update) functionality,” said Li Guozheng, founder and CEO of Druid Technologies.

“Nordic also provided clear product evolution ideas and a high degree of technical collaboration, which provided strong support for our product development planning.”