Animal Borne Camera Design, Manufacturing, and Testing for Sea Turtle Applications

Imagine, as aspiring engineers, being able to unlock a unique gateway into the aquatic lives of sea turtles, and other marine animals, providing an intimate view of their underwater journey. Diving into the heart of the underwater universe and assessing the foraging behaviour of marine organisms is key to understand how these species adapt to shifting food availability, especially under the looming shadow of climate change impacts on feeding grounds.
Indeed, one of the grand challenges has been observing these creatures directly in their natural environment without disruption from human presence. But here's where your ingenuity and engineering prowess come in: you have the potential to craft an elegant solution that can meet these challenges head-on: the development of an animal-borne camera, an unobtrusive observer in the deep blue sea. https://youtu.be/rWW6xyJwE3Y?si=ATaXaMMMGBD1t5Dh

Objectives


For this capstone project, the team will create a camera designed specifically for sea turtles. This device would be equipped with VHF technology to ensure easy recovery and data download. You would engineer the housing unit to be sleek and streamlined, minimizing hydrodynamic drag, and allowing the turtles to swim with minimal additional effort.


Your design will house an optical payload (video camera), a VHF antenna, and, potentially, environmental sensors for depth and temperature. A successful execution of these specifications will offer a dynamic and non-disruptive glimpse into sea turtle behavior, and has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of their underwater activities. 

The implications of such a project are immense. Your work could transform marine biology studies, advancing our understanding of not only sea turtles, but potentially paving the way for similar explorations with other marine species.


As a team you will leverage your engineering skills, creativity, and passion for conservation to bring this project to life. It's a challenge that's as exciting as it is vital, and it's an opportunity to make a significant impact on marine research and conservation while showcasing the power and potential of practical engineering. Remember, your innovations today could help reshape our understanding of marine ecosystems tomorrow.

Motivations


The scarcity of commercially available options, compounded by their high costs, often exceeding $10K a unit, has been a roadblock for many researchers. Some efforts have been made to capture the underwater behavior of sea turtles using customized solutions, but the demand for an affordable camera, specifically tailored to hard-shelled sea turtles, remains strong.

Qualifications


Minimum Qualifications:
None Listed

Preferred Qualifications:
None Listed


Details


Project Partner:

Layne Clemen

NDA/IPA:

No Agreement Required

Number Groups:

1

Project Status:

Accepting Applicants

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