Design of a multi-week Sound and Motion Recording and Telemetry (SMRT) tag for behavioural studies on whales
Abstract
This proposal addresses topic 2b in BAA15-001 Ocean Battlespace Sensing: Marine mammals and sound in the ocean . We propose to develop for mass production critical tag technology needed to study the behavioral effects of sound on wild marine mammals over extended intervals. This will enable finescale studies of sound exposure and responses under authentic conditions, e.g., multi-vessel maneuvers in Navy ranges, providing data needed to detect biologically-significant long-lasting responses. Studies of the impact of human-sourced sound on marine mammals have been greatly aided by multisensor tags such as the DTAG that simultaneously sample the sounds experienced by animals and their fine-scale behavior. However the recording time of these tags is limited to a few days and there is currently no tag technology available for monitoring behavioral responses to longer sound exposures such as Navy sonar exercises. To sample before, during, and after these exercises, a tag duration of 2-3 weeks may be required, a ten-fold increase over current sound recording tags. Designing a tag for such long durations entails several major challenges. It may be infeasible to physically recover tags that are attached to whales for several weeks necessitating that essential information be transmitted via low data rate satellite telemetry. Thus, a high level of data selection and compression must be performed by the tag. Another major constraint on a multi-week tag is its size. A small, hydrodynamic tag is required both to ensure reliable attachment for the required time, and to minimize impact of the tag on the host animal. As a consequence the battery volume, and therefore energy, is strictly limited necessitating extremely efficient electronic circuits. In previous ONR-funded work at St Andrews, we evaluated the possibility of a multi-week tag that computes highly compressed behavior and exposure metrics in real-time while attached to an animal. Here we propose to combine the data processing methods developed in that project with other critical electronic, mechanical and attachment technologies developed by the participants to produce a highly integrated Sound and Motion Recording and Telemetry (SMRT) tag suitable for mass production. This proposal covers the first steps in this process comprising specification and preliminary engineering. We will first perform a feasibility assessment which will involve also reaching an agreement on intellectual property between the participants. Based on this, we will make a Go/No-Go decision on the commercial and technical feasibility of producing the SMRT tag. In parallel, the lead-PI will produce a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication describing the in situ data processing methods to be used in the new tag. If a Go decision is reached, we will begin engineering work on two key elements of the tag: (i) the mechanical design, specifically, development of reliable processes to combine the compliant, rigid, and low-density materials needed to encapsulate components in the tag, and (ii) the miniature, low power sound and motion acquisition and processing module that will form the kernel of the new tag. Successful development of these components will greatly reduce the risks in producing a complete prototype tag for field evaluation in the following year. The proposed work will be performed at St Andrews and, under a companion proposal, at Wildlife Computers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512757
Entities
People
- Todd Lindstrom
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Wildlife Computers (United States)