Privacy-Oriented BLE Tracker & Companion App
Hardware BLE beacon with custom native Android application for direct encrypted tracking.
Project Overview
Commercial location trackers frequently rely on third-party cloud infrastructure, making user location data vulnerable to tracking and data broker monetization. This project was built to address these privacy concerns by designing a self-contained, end-to-end tracking system.
The hardware consists of a custom BLE transmitter engineered for minimal power consumption. Communication with the user's smartphone is direct and end-to-end encrypted, keeping all telemetry strictly between the user's phone and their hardware node.
Hardware-level power optimization focuses on aggressive deep-sleep modes, short advertising bursts, and minimal peripheral activity to extend battery life. The companion Android app handles secure pairing and key storage locally, shows battery/state telemetry, and maintains a locally-stored visit timeline. The project also includes PCB photos and a full schematic (linked below) and supports firmware update and diagnostics over a developer mode when a device is connected.
Secondary Hardware Node
Circuit Schematic
