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Mobile App, Admin Portal, and Firmware for a Smart Dog Collar

Features geofencing and virtual leash functionality

Case Highlights

Mobile app, admin portal, and firmware for a smart dog collar
  • Dog position tracking in real time via GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE
  • Geofencing functionality
  • Automatic behavioral corrections and instant commands
  • Offline mode
  • Azure-based back end
  • Over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates
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The client wanted to develop a smart dog collar that offered pet owners a number of features for safely monitoring their pets.

Project Information
Technology
Xamarin .NET Angular C Azure
Engagement model

DDT (Dedicated Development team)

T&M (Time and Materials)

Methodology

Scrum

Team
6

Mobile Developers

2

Firmware Developers

3

QA Engineers

2

Front-end Developers

3

Business Analysts

3

Business Analysts

5

Back-end Developers

1

Project Manager

1

UX/UI Designer

More Details

Problem

The client wanted to create a smart dog collar. The product would be geared toward dog owners living in private homes that want to keep their pets safe.

The smart collar was meant to be a more effective and innovative alternative to traditional solutions: 

  • Physical fences that restrict the movement of dogs
  • In-ground fences that create an electrically charged boundary

The connected device would allow dog owners to create virtual fences, which prevent pets from leaving a designated area, and keep dogs within a safe distance using virtual leash functionality.

The client addressed Softeq to develop a cross-platform mobile application, back end, firmware, and web admin portal for the connected collar.

Solution

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Related services

Subtitle
The solution supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, which will help our client roll out new features and security patches after the collar hits the shelves.
Show more
How it Works

Through a mobile app, users can set up automatic behavioral corrections and give instant commands.

The solution features a sophisticated business logic that enables users to create virtual fences or apply instant commands on their mobile phone directly via Bluetooth or by connecting to a Wi-Fi or LTE network. Users can configure a number of behavior corrections that are applied when a dog approaches or steps beyond the virtual fence. The solution is integrated with Mapbox—an interactive mapping tool that helps set up virtual fences by touching points on a map.

The solution supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, which will help our client roll out new features and security patches after the collar hits the shelves.

Mobile App

We chose Xamarin for the iOS mobile app so that we could reuse the codebase to create an Android version in the future. The framework also enables a simpler debugging process, which will help our client reduce the application maintenance costs.

The mobile app enables the user to:

  • Define virtual fences on an online map
  • Track a dog’s position in real time via GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE, automatically selecting the best option at all times.
  • Set up behavioral corrections for designated areas
  • Use virtual leash functionality: monitor the distance between a dog and a smartphone over Bluetooth and execute various scenarios to correct unwanted behavior
  • Define virtual fencing or restricted areas indoors with Bluetooth beacons
  • Use the collar in offline mode: once the virtual fences are defined, the gadget does not need cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity to function (virtual fence settings are stored on the device)
  • Receive push notifications every time the dog leaves the fenced area, gets lost, or heads home
  • Access a practical training course developed in collaboration with Cesar Millan, a leading dog behavior expert
Automatic Corrections

Through the mobile app, users can configure areas where different types of automated corrections are applied. Depending on the user's choice, it may be a sound, vibration, or a static signal.

When dogs leave the virtual fence area, the system considers them to be lost if they do not return within 30 minutes. In this instance, owners can find their pets via GPS coordinates. When the user’s dog is approaching their house, the collar turns on an encouragement signal ("Heading Home").

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Typical Commynication Flow
Instant Commands

In addition to automatic corrections, users can apply instant commands.

If pet owners see their dog fighting with another dog or eating something on the street, they can activate any automatic correction through their smartphone. Users can also praise their dog for good behavior or call them home.

5-examples-of-technical-writing-in-software-development-and-implementation-hero
Typical Commynication Flow
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Typical Commynication Flow

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Anna Lutsenko

Anna Lutsenko
 Sales Manager
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Software and Technology
Colin Hickey — 
Head of Product

In terms of project management, Softeq is bulletproof. They respond to things quickly, and they don't cheat by doing the bare minimum work to achieve the specs. They're apologetic if something doesn't work as planned, even if it's not their fault. And they turn around resolutions extremely quickly.

Video Testimonial

Result

Smart Dog Collar with Virtual Fencing

The connected collar is currently on the market. The solution helps dog owners feel at ease, knowing that their pets have a lower risk of getting lost and being hit by cars. Should a dog with the connected collar get lost, owners will have no trouble finding them through real-time GPS tracking. Moreover, owners will be able to take their dogs on trips abroad—the device supports LTE data roaming in a special network for IoT devices from the mobile operator TNT. The collar also aids in the training process, which in turn helps reduce the number of dogs that are sent back to animal shelters after adoption.

The solution is less expensive and more flexible than other options on the market. It is much easier to set up than traditional physical fences and in-ground wire fence systems. Additionally, it can be moved to any location at any time, providing endless configurations and adaptability.
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