What is Movement-Based Tracking?
When we refer to “movement-based tracking,” the device is using the accelerometer and GPS in tandem to detect movement, varying the updated rates accordingly. This means the device “sleeps” in an extremely low power state until woken by the accelerometer. Once woken, it checks for GPS and log position updates. This adaptive technology offers several benefits in tracking:
Increased Battery Life
Running the accelerometer in a low power state is far less energy-intensive than constantly running a GPS module. This results in the exceptionally long battery lifetimes seen in our product range.
Optimized Data Use and Data Collection
Get valuable tracking data when it’s needed (for example, when your asset is on the move) and scale back when you don’t (when the asset is stationary). Movement-based tracking ensures the device isn’t sending constant updates and using SIM data when it doesn’t have to, while still allowing for valuable data capture when it matters.
Timely Movement Alerts for Theft Prevention
Devices with accelerometers can be configured to upload after even the slightest movements are detected, triggering an immediate alert. These movement alerts are highly configurable, so you get the notifications you need, when you need them, to keep your assets safe.
Trip Tracking with Enhanced Accuracy
Our battery-powered devices such as the Remora2 and Oyster2 can operate in ‘Standard GPS Tracking’ or ‘Jostle Based’ modes.
The “Standard” GPS tracking mode will have the accelerometer wake the device from sleep when small movements are detected. The GPS is checked to see if it has moved far from the original position. Once it has moved past a configurable threshold, only then is a trip started and an alert sent. This prevents small movements and bumps resulting in many trips and uploads, which wastes battery life and complicates reporting.
Alternatively, “Jostle Mode” begins a trip based on accelerometer movement and can be used to track shorter trips (like moving a trailer in a yard) or monitoring run hours when an asset is vibrating (a stationary pump for example). The level of vibration required is easily configurable via our OTA Device Management Platform OEM Server.
Other Firmware Features That Use 3-Axis Accelerometers Include:
Accident and Rollover Detection (powered vehicle trackers like the Bolt, G62, Dart2, G120)
Harsh acceleration, braking, and cornering alerts and detection (powered vehicle trackers)
High–G Events / Impact Detection
Tilt sensing (Guppy LoRaWAN®)
Man Down Alerts (Yabby Cellular + LoRaWAN®)
Inactivity Timers (Most devices)
Run hour monitoring based on the vibration of assets
