1) There are invisible fence products that buzzes/zaps ol' Fido if he gets too close to it

2) GPS systems have pretty good accuracy these days

Combine the two into a collar-based system! Use a web-based mapping tool to set the route (clicking waypoints on a Google-Maps-like interface), download the route to the collar, and set Fido free*!

* Freedom may only be an illusion.
-- slater, Nov 28 2012

for instance GPS_20dog_20collar
[theircompetitor, Nov 28 2012]

Dog Nav Dog_20Nav
"It could get instructions in the form of [...] sounds," says [scad mientist] [lurch, Nov 28 2012]

Since the only clue the dog will have about where it's supposed to go is the zaps, you'll soon have a very pissed-off dog out wandering around.
-- lurch, Nov 28 2012


It is good enough, depending on where and how you use it.

Might be good on a farm for example, but not in a small yard.

Excellent Idea! +
-- Kansan101, Nov 28 2012


[lurch] The dog doesn't need to get zapped all the time. It could get instructions in the form of low volume non-annoying sounds from the collar. If it doesn't follow the instructions, the collar could emit an annoying warning sound. If the dog still keeps going in the wrong direction, it gets zapped.

I have to agree with all of [21 Quest]'s objections.

I do like the concept though, so will remain neutral.
-- scad mientist, Nov 28 2012


A single GPS receiver will be able to place itself within about a 3m circle. Which will mean that Fido may indeed wander into traffic or a garden. However, if we make the pooch wear a large triangular structure on his back... say 1.5m per side. Then we can place a receiver at each point. Now, we will have 3 points, with 3 corresponding circles of probable-pooch-location. What we DO know however is their relative positions, a reasonable quality microcontroller should be able to eliminate all the areas where Fido cannot be, giving a resolution of about 1m. Which is good enough I think. There, done.
-- bs0u0155, Nov 28 2012


this idea in multiple variations has been here before
-- theircompetitor, Nov 28 2012


clean up's easy... just take the dog out for a walk before he goes for a walk. And the 1.5m triangle should keep people out of range of the sharp parts.
-- bs0u0155, Nov 28 2012


This wouldn't work with moles.
-- Ling, Nov 29 2012


Actually, I don't think having 3 GPS recievers 1.5m apart will help very much. Most of the error comes from things like atmospheric variation that will affect all three receivers equally. Using differencial GPS with receivers in fixed locations that broadcast correction data can apparently get as good as 10cm accuracy. I found one site listing sub-meter accuracy for agricultural purposes as low as $1595, maybe a little more than you want to invest in your dog walker, but the price might drop if it found a high-volume market.
-- scad mientist, Nov 29 2012



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