# Pet Tracking with IoT-Enabled Smart Collars | Halo Collar's Ken Ehrman

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2021-06-14
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/Pet-Tracking-with-IoT-Enabled-Smart-Collars--Halo-Collars-Ken-Ehrman-e28bmro

## Summary

Ken Ehrman, Managing Partner at Halo Collar, explains how his company replaced invisible fences with an IoT-enabled smart collar that uses GPS, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to create virtual boundaries. He details the engineering trade-offs required to balance battery life with real-time tracking, noting the device's rugged enclosure and multi-protocol connectivity. Ehrman also discusses the firmware challenges of filtering Bluetooth interference and the security measures implemented to prevent collar theft and hacking.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=0) Introduction: Ken Ehrman and Halo Collar
- [1:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=66) Ehrman's Background: Echelon, ID Systems, and the Origin Story
- [8:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=486) Halo Collar Features: Audio, Vibration, and Static Feedback
- [16:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=993) Battery Life and Power Management Trade-offs
- [21:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=1278) Firmware Complexity and Version 92 Iterations
- [27:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=1653) Connectivity Switching and Bluetooth Filtering
- [30:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman#t=1803) Security, Anti-Theft, and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Halo Collar (product)
- Echelon (company)
- ID Systems (company)
- Caesar Milan (other)
- Ring (product)
- Fortune 500 (other)
- Avis (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Ford (company)
- Sierra Wireless (company)
- Digi (company)
- OrbCom (company)
- Cadamp (company)
- Saras Tag (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#025: Powered by Sunlight, Fenced by Software: Inside Monil's Cattle Collar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2026-10-05-025-powered-by-sunlight-fenced-by-software-inside-monils-cattle-collar) (Coredump Sessions)
- [Space Age Bluetooth with Alex Haro](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-07-09-space-age-bluetooth-with-alex-haro) (The Amp Hour)
- [39: I Blame Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-19-39-i-blame-space) (Embedded.fm)
- [117: In as Much as Which](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-09-117-in-as-much-as-which) (Embedded.fm)
- [62: Costs a Penny to Go to the Bathroom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-08-06-62-costs-a-penny-to-go-to-the-bathroom) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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