Theses and Dissertations

Millions of pets go missing every year and this project has the purpose of offering a pet GPS tracking solution to aid in this issue. An Arduino microcontroller was combined with a GPS module and GSM module to create the hardware of the device, which was then connected to a mobile application that was developed for the explicit purpose of this project. Amazon Web Services was used to significantly bring down the cost of connecting the hardware to the mobile app. Upon the completion of the project, a prototype pet GPS tracking device and mobile application were developed, and instructions were given so that any user could re-create the same solution for their own purposes.

This honors thesis explores the potential use of LoRa technology for detecting moisture in a diaper. Tests of both onboard and external humidity sensors coupled with LoRa transmission are incredibly promising. The potential scale of the final device also shows much promise, measuring smaller than a U.S. dime. However, the estimated cost for producing these proof-of-concept units in bulk is $19.41 per unit. While this is believed to be a pessimistic estimate of the price, the cost of production remains too high regardless for large-scale implementation. The thesis concludes by emphasizing the need for further research and development to optimize the design and reduce the cost of production. Despite the limitations imposed by price, the idea of using LoRa in detecting moisture in a diaper remains intriguing and promising, however, RFID technology has many advantages, such as size, cost, and passive power features.