Aurok-1 (HerdWatch)

Aurok-1 is a smart livestock monitoring system designed to help farmers manage and protect cattle through continuous, real-time health and behavior tracking. Built as a rugged, low-power wearable collar, the device integrates GPS, temperature, humidity, methane, motion, and heartbeat sensors, transmitting data via LTE to a cloud-based platform accessible on mobile or desktop. By transforming raw sensor readings into clear alerts and historical insights, Aurok-1 enables early disease detection, monitors heat stress and grazing patterns, and helps prevent theft through location tracking and geofencing. Developed through iterative prototyping at DipperLab, KNUST, the system is engineered to be affordable for smallholder farmers, durable in harsh environments, and practical for everyday farm use.

The project addresses major challenges in African livestock farming, including preventable animal deaths, limited access to reliable monitoring tools, and increasing climate-related stress on herds. With a fully assembled prototype now ready for field testing, Aurok-1 aims to reduce livestock mortality, improve breeding and nutrition decisions, lower veterinary costs through preventive care, and support climate resilience by monitoring animal stress and methane-related indicators. Future development will enhance battery efficiency, incorporate solar-assisted power, and introduce AI-driven health predictions, with pilot deployments planned across Ghana. Ultimately, Aurok-1 seeks to deliver a locally developed precision livestock solution that empowers farmers with data-driven decision-making and strengthens sustainable agricultural productivity.

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