Born and raised on a farm in Caledon, Philip Lötter has been immersed in the farming lifestyle since childhood. In 1988, he began farming on his own, but like many farmers, he faced persistent challenges. Chief among them was protecting his livestock from theft and predator attacks – a devastating problem he experienced first-hand. These incidents often went unnoticed until it was too late, with the damage already done by morning.

He searched for a solution that could warn him when his herd was in distress and behaved abnormally. At the time, options were limited to regular patrol groups or personally guarding the animals overnight, with little success – especially during full moon nights when theft was more likely to occur. Frustrated and feeling powerless, he envisioned a device that could detect abnormal herd activity in real-time and empower farmers to fight back against the growing problem of stock theft and predator attacks.

In collaboration with Stellenbosch University’s Engineering Faculty, the first prototype was born – a device strapped to a sheep’s foot to monitor movement patterns during grazing or running. After numerous experiments, the design evolved into a more accurate strap worn around the chest, which brought its own set of challenges.​