Always Within Reach

It may seem like the age of discovery and grand expeditions is over — there are no more uncharted seas to cross or rumored continents to seek out. But that is not entirely true. Sure, we know a lot more about our world than people of the past, but there are still vast unexplored regions of the planet, such as those in the Arctic or the jungles of South America. And for those that do set out to explore them, it can feel like they are taking a trip back in time in more ways than one.

A lack of communications systems and navigational tools, for example, will be immediately felt. That was the experience of Polish engineer and explorer Lukasz Cepowski, who set out on a yacht to sail the oceans of the Arctic. This motivated Cepowski to create the Aegir GPS Tracker, which logs GPS coordinates during an adventure, and can operate just about anywhere on the face of the Earth. The device can also serve as a lifeline in times of trouble, as it can be used to send out calls for help.

The Aegir GPS Tracker is designed to work in both populated areas with LTE coverage and remote locations using satellite communication via the Iridium network. At its core is an STM32F401 microcontroller on a BlackPill board, which manages data collection and communication. It integrates a NEO 8M GPS receiver to gather location data every second using NMEA format and an external GPS antenna for improved signal reception. The device sends data via a SIM7600G LTE module when LTE is available, ensuring coverage in around 170 countries. For remote regions without LTE access, it uses a RockBLOCK 9603N Iridium transceiver to send data over the Iridium satellite network, which is essential for polar and oceanic areas where traditional networks do not work.

The system is designed to be highly durable and portable, powered by a 12V DC input from vehicles or ships, with an additional backup power module providing up to two hours of battery life. It logs all position data to an SD card every 10 seconds and displays live tracking information (such as position, speed, and course) on a 128x64 OLED display. The firmware, written in C using FreeRTOS, divides tasks into threads to manage GPS data, communication modules, and the display efficiently. This modular design also includes exposed I/O pins for future expansion, allowing the addition of sensors via I2C. A custom-designed PCB integrates all components into a compact form factor housed in a polycarbonate case that protects it from the elements.

The tracking device was tested on a sailing expedition to Svalbard from Tromsø in northern Norway. It was installed on the yacht and compared against other satellite communication tools like the Garmin InReach and Iridium Edge. After navigating through Norwegian fjords due to a storm, the crew headed north to Bear Island and onward to Svalbard, visiting the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund. The tracker functioned as expected, sending data every 10 seconds in coastal waters with LTE coverage, and every hour via the Iridium network in more remote polar regions.

Despite the tracker’s success, the project concluded after the expedition due to the high costs of Iridium transmission, making further development less practical. However, despite the costs, Cepowski found immense satisfaction in the device’s success in Arctic conditions.