Designing an archival Satellite transmitter for life-long deployments on oceanic vertebrates: the life history transmitter (original) (raw)

2005, IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering

Despite the widespread use of sophisticated telemetry transmitters in behavioral, physiological and ecological studies, few studies on population dynamics of oceanic vertebrates use such technology, primarily due to the difficulty of obtaining multi-year records from individual animals. We present the first telemetry transmitter specifically designed for collecting vital data from marine vertebrates over extended periods, up to a decade. The implantable Life History Transmitter records data throughout the life of a host animal. After the host animal dies, the tag is extruded, and, while floating on the ocean or lying on a beach, transmits previously stored data to orbiting satellites. For tags relying solely on end-of-deployment transmission, reliability and proper recognition of tag state is crucial. The Life History Transmitter uses heuristic tag state determination, in combination with simple error detection and fault tolerance measures, to increase tag reliability and likelihood of data recovery. We used a computer simulation of tag deployments and various sensor failures on a PC platform, in combination with time-accelerated simulations running on the actual deployment platform, to test the functionality of fault tolerance and error detection protocols. . As part of this work he developed the first computer-based data-logger for recording diving activity and body temperature, and the first blood sampler to operate on study animals at depths up to 1000 m. Both of these devices were successfully deployed on free-swimming Weddell seals in the Antarctic in 1982 and 1983. Over the next few years he developed and deployed the first satellite-linked data-loggers to be deployed on free-ranging seals. These devices telemetered both physiological and environmental data via the Argos system from Crabeater seals in the Antarctic. In 1987, he moved to Woodinville, WA, and started Wildlife Computers with his wife Sue. He became both President and Chief Engineer and is now primarily responsible for new product development at the Wildlife Computers, which has flourished over the intervening years and now has 25 employees and is situated in Redmond, WA.