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Last month’s Iditarlo Dog Sled Race in Alaska used a satellite-based RFID system (with speed and temperature sensors) not only to provide fans of the sport with an opportunity to see the progress of the event in real time, but also Protect the personal safety of contestants. By adopting this system, event organizers can rescue stranded participants and their equipment in time. The Idi Tallo Dog Sled Race is one of the longest dog sled races in the world, stretching over 1,150 miles from Willow to Nome, passing through mountains, forests, inhospitable tundra and frozen rivers, all of which The temperature in the area is below freezing.Because the ice and snow experienced by the contestants on the way tested the physical strength, endurance and determination of the contestants, the process was extremely difficult and difficult, so it was hailed as the final challenge at the end of the century
The tracking system consists of RFID transponders developed by IonEarth a Traverse City, an expert in satellite event tracking solutions. Each transponder contains a GPS receiver, an Iridium short-burst modem that transmits an ID code signal, and an accelerometer that tracks speed and temperature sensors. Measuring approximately 6 inches long, 3 inches wide, 3 inches thick, and weighing less than 3 pounds, the waterproof transponder is charged by a high-capacity, cold-resistant battery, according to onEarth creator Jerry Miller. The device is attached to the front of the sled with a stainless steel bracket that precisely positions the sled to within 20 feet.
The IonEarth transponder consists of a GPS receiver, a
Iridium short burst modem, an accelerometer that tracks speed and temperature sensors
The device is set to send the sled’s position, speed, heading and temperature every 15 minutes via the Iridium satellite network to a central server managed by Iridium. According to Pat Shay, head of the company’s data division, the Iridium network consists of 66 low-orbiting (LEO) satellites covering the globe, providing voice and real-time data communications.
Iridium server data is routed over the Internet to the IonEarth server. The IonEarth application software collects this information and marks it on a map, allowing viewers to view and track the location of competitors through the Iditarod website. In addition, event organizers, volunteers, media, veterinarians, paramedics and rescuers are equipped with IonEarth satellite communication terminals connected to handheld computers so they can monitor athletes in remote areas without the need for an Internet connection.
Because event organizers can closely monitor the location and condition of each competitor, they can tell if a competitor’s speed is lower than normal and monitor the temperature they are exposed to if they see no sign of movement. This type of data can be used to determine whether an athlete is at risk.
Thanks to the system’s tracking capabilities, rookie Lou Packer was able to escape, according to a report in the Anchorage Daily News. During the race, Packer got lost halfway through, and the track was buried in the snow; the surrounding snowstorm and the temperature dropped to minus 50 degrees, Packer had to slow down. When the organizers tracked Packer’s speed less than half a mile per hour and the temperature was extremely low, a helicopter and search and rescue personnel were dispatched to rescue Lou Packer in time according to the system’s location.
The tracking system not only determines where the contestant is, but also infers whether the contestant is in danger
Tracking contestants in real time must use a satellite communications network like Iridium, Shay said. “The Iditarod competition was a perfect demonstration of the capabilities of our global network,” he said, noting that there were no base stations in the Alaskan wilderness to transmit. “In Alaska, the cell phone network is only distributed on the east coast where the population lives, and cell phones simply don’t work in the wilderness.”
At the 2008 event, Iridium and IonEarth tested the tracking system on a handful of sleds. The competition organizers were so pleased with the test results that this year’s competition made the system mandatory for all participants. However, not all athletes are in favour of the system, he said, as the Iditarlo dog sled race has been hailed as the final challenge of the century – a strong sense of independence in the race between humans and animals versus nature. In any case, the final contestants were also satisfied with the system.
“After the race this year, I went to a dog sledding association meeting,” says Miller. “I gave a 15-minute presentation and got feedback. The athletes really appreciated that the system allowed the audience to know in real time. race progress.”
More importantly, the use of the IonEarth satellite communication terminal enables volunteers and referees at the checkpoint to track the progress of the event and prepare the competitors’ supplies at the station in time.
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