Virtual fences for controlling livestock using satellite-tracking and warning signals

In this paper we describe our “Virtual fencing” project. This project is a method of controlling animals without ground-based fencing. Control occurs by altering an animal's behavior through one or more sensory cues administered to the animal after it has attempted to penetrate an electronically-generated boundary. This boundary can be of any geometrical shape, and though unseen by the eye. Am animal is detected by a computer system worn by the animal which we refer to as a Smart Collar. Each animal in the herd is given a smart collar consisting of a global positioning system (GPS), XBee communication module and mp3 player.