title: "How a Pallet Tracker Achieves 10‑Year Battery Life: Deep Dive into IoT Power Optimization"
published: true
description: "Explore how the GPT50 pallet tracker combines a high‑capacity battery, deep‑sleep firmware, LTE‑M/NB‑IoT connectivity and event‑driven design to deliver multi‑year battery life for logistics and asset tracking applications."
tags: iot, hardware, embedded, logistics
Long battery life and timely data are often at odds in Internet‑of‑Things (IoT) applications. Waking a device for constant GPS fixes and cellular uploads drains batteries quickly. Designing a tracker that lasts for years on a single battery means optimizing every aspect of hardware, firmware and network usage.
In this post we take a close look at how the GPT50 pallet tracker solves this challenge. With a massive 24 000 mAh battery, deep‑sleep firmware and ultra‑efficient LTE‑M/NB‑IoT connectivity, it can provide location and sensor data for up to 5–8 years (≈10 years in ideal conditions). We'll cover the hardware choices, firmware strategies, data pipeline and rugged design that make this possible.
Hardware & Power Management: Every Milliamp Counts
The GPT50’s hardware is built around long‑term efficiency:
Deep sleep microcontroller & multi‑constellation GNSS: most of the time the MCU and GNSS module are asleep. A 3‑axis accelerometer acts as a wake‑up trigger; if the pallet is stationary, the system stays in standby and avoids unnecessary location fixes or network pings. When motion is detected, the device wakes and reacts. The GNSS chip supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo, shortening time‑to‑first‑fix. It achieves cold‑start fixes in ≤ 35 s and hot starts in ~ 3 s.
LTE‑M / NB‑IoT connectivity: unlike legacy 3G/4G, these standards are designed for IoT with low power per byte transmitted. The GPT50 uses Power Saving Mode (PSM) and eDRX to remain unreachable most of the time; it essentially tells the network “wake me once a day” and sleeps the rest of the time.
Event‑driven sensors: sensors are polled sparingly or on interrupt. The light sensor triggers an interrupt only when tamper is detected. Temperature measurements may be taken at intervals or when the device wakes for scheduled reports.
Integrated temperature and motion monitoring: a built‑in temperature sensor monitors environmental conditions from –20 °C to +65 °C, with configurable high/low alarms. The accelerometer monitors movement and wakes the device when significant motion is detected.
Firmware & Operating Modes: Smart Sleep Patterns
The firmware exposes two primary modes:
Long Standby Mode: the default for daily tracking. The device sleeps nearly all the time and wakes on a schedule—say, once every 24 hours—to obtain a quick GNSS fix, read sensors and transmit the data. If motion or tamper is detected, it breaks schedule and sends an immediate alert.
Emergency Live Tracking Mode: if an asset is reported missing or stolen, you can remotely switch the tracker to live mode. In this state it stays awake and sends frequent updates (e.g., every minute) for short‑term recovery. After a defined period it reverts to standby to preserve battery life.
This dual‑mode approach balances routine efficiency with on‑demand performance.
Connectivity & Data Pipeline: Lightweight & Developer‑Friendly
On the cloud side, the GPT50 communicates with EELink’s IoT platform or a custom server via MQTT or lightweight TCP. Data packets are compact—only a few dozen bytes containing ID, timestamp, coordinates and sensor statuses. An example JSON payload looks like:
{
"id": "GPT50-12345",
"ts": 1695158400,
"lat": 51.5079,
"lon": -0.1275,
"temp": 5.2,
"tamper": false,
"motion": false,
"battery": 94
}
Developers can subscribe to device topics or use the provided REST API to integrate tracker data into their own applications. Features like geofence notifications, data storage and dashboards come out of the box. This flexibility means you can use the GPT50 with fleet management software, warehouse systems or your own dashboards.
Integration Example: Cold‑Chain Alert
Imagine you need an alert in Slack whenever a cold‑chain pallet exceeds 8 °C. Set that threshold on the tracker or platform. When the device detects 10 °C, it will immediately publish an MQTT message or trigger a webhook. Your integration can catch that event and automatically create an incident (“Pallet #123 temperature excursion”) without worrying about how the data got there.
Rugged Design & Deployment: Built to Last
Beyond battery and firmware, the GPT50’s physical design makes it suitable for long‑term deployment:
IP67/IPX7 waterproof enclosure and ruggedized housing protect it from dust and water. Pressure‑equalizing membranes and careful sealing prevent ingress at openings like the SIM slot.
Wide operating temperature range from –20 °C to +65 °C ensures reliable performance in extreme cold or heat. Industrial‑grade components and battery chemistry are selected for longevity.
Mounting flanges and low‑profile form factor keep the device secure on pallets while minimizing obstruction. It sits flush so forklifts and handling equipment don’t knock it off. The concealed design also enhances security.
Developer Takeaways
Devices like the GPT50 illustrate best practices in low‑power IoT: maximize sleep, minimize transmission, use event‑driven logic and leverage low‑power networks. They also demonstrate that hardware is only half the story—the value comes from the data and how you integrate it. By providing an open API and reliable data stream, the GPT50 becomes a component you can build applications around, from predictive analytics to supply‑chain digital twins.
Summary
The GPT50 shows that long‑life field devices are possible. With robust hardware, deep‑sleep firmware, multi‑constellation GNSS, LTE‑M/NB‑IoT connectivity and intelligent sensors, it delivers multi‑year battery life while providing real‑time location and condition data. Developers and logistics managers can instrument pallets, containers and equipment that were previously offline. The more “alive” our assets become, the more we can optimize routes, detect bottlenecks and automate supply‑chain processes.
FAQ
How long does the GPT50 battery actually last?
With once‑daily reporting in long standby mode, the GPT50 can run for 5–8 years on a single charge, and up to ~10 years in ideal conditions. Using emergency live tracking mode frequently will shorten battery life.
Does the GPT50 support live tracking?
Yes. You can remotely switch to Emergency Live Tracking Mode for continuous updates, then revert to long standby to conserve power.
What network technologies does it use?
The device uses LTE‑M and NB‑IoT with 2G GSM fallback, offering global coverage with low power consumption.
How can I integrate GPT50 data into my systems?
Data is published via MQTT topics or a REST API, enabling easy integration into fleet management or warehouse systems.
*Disclosure: This post links to the GPT50 pallet tracker on the EELink website readers who want to learn more about the
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