MANTA:MANTA:

The Marine ANimalThe Marine ANimal Tracking ApparatusTracking Apparatus

Tom NorrisTom Norris - Science Applications International Corp. - Science Applications International Corp.

Marco FlaggMarco Flagg - Desert Star Systems LLC - Desert Star Systems LLC

WHAT IS MANTA?WHAT IS MANTA?

MANTA is a “multi-mode” data telemetry and data MANTA is a “multi-mode” data telemetry and data logging system designed for real-time tracking and logging system designed for real-time tracking and monitoring of large marine vertebrates.monitoring of large marine vertebrates.

Real-time 3-D underwater acoustic trackingReal-time 3-D underwater acoustic tracking Real-time VHF trackingReal-time VHF tracking Data-logger capableData-logger capable

• depthdepth• tilt/roll sensortilt/roll sensor• acoustic and other sensorsacoustic and other sensors

Data telemetry via an acoustic modem Data telemetry via an acoustic modem (limited transmit rates < 150 bps)(limited transmit rates < 150 bps)

MANTA CapabilitiesMANTA Capabilities

How Does MANTA Work?How Does MANTA Work?

PC

Surface Station

STM-1

Serial

LinkSerial

LinkGPS RX

GPS Satellite

N

S

SerialLink

Heading SensorAnimal With EM-0 Transponder

Surface StationSurface Station

How are underwater How are underwater locations determined?locations determined?

Slant range estimated from signal return timeSlant range estimated from signal return time Horizontal bearing estimated from time delay Horizontal bearing estimated from time delay

at receiving array (surface station)at receiving array (surface station) Depth is measured at tag and acoustically Depth is measured at tag and acoustically

transmitted to surface stationtransmitted to surface station

Three quantities needed: 1) Range 2) Bearing 3) DepthThree quantities needed: 1) Range 2) Bearing 3) Depth

MANTA Tag DesignMANTA Tag Design

transformerVHF transmitters

release mechanism

batteries

circuit board

transducer

MANTA MANTA Protoype Protoype TagTag

4.5 cm

9.5 cm

MANTA Tag FeaturesMANTA Tag FeaturesMicro-controllerMicro-controller

2 mHz Motorola (MC68HC711) 2 mHz Motorola (MC68HC711) Acoustic transceiver Acoustic transceiver

33 - 42 kHz frequency hopping transmitter33 - 42 kHz frequency hopping transmitter33.8 kHz single channel receiver33.8 kHz single channel receiver

Data-loggerData-logger (1 Mb - upgrade-able via modules) (1 Mb - upgrade-able via modules) depth & tilt/roll sensor standarddepth & tilt/roll sensor standardsix additional A/D channels w/programmable gainsix additional A/D channels w/programmable gain

Acoustic modemAcoustic modem 5 - 150 bps bits/sec transmit; 5- 35 bits/sec receive5 - 150 bps bits/sec transmit; 5- 35 bits/sec receive

Future Tag FeaturesFuture Tag Features

Acoustic Event DetectorAcoustic Event Detector bandpass filter with bandpass filter with

envelope detectorenvelope detector reconstruct original reconstruct original

signal from outputsignal from output

To

EM-0

Divebase Tracking SoftwareDivebase Tracking Software

Test Example: Manta RaysTest Example: Manta Rays

Test Example: Manta RaysTest Example: Manta Rays

Future PlansFuture Plans

• Redesign of MANTA tag:Redesign of MANTA tag:

• smaller diameter (~ 4 cm)smaller diameter (~ 4 cm)• modular componentsmodular components• scalable memory (up to 8 Mb)scalable memory (up to 8 Mb)• acoustic event detectoracoustic event detector

• Integrate directional hydrophone & VHF capabilitiesIntegrate directional hydrophone & VHF capabilities

• Deploy on balaenopterids in Monterey Bay, Summer ‘03Deploy on balaenopterids in Monterey Bay, Summer ‘03

ApplicationsApplications•Validating passive acoustic localization systemsValidating passive acoustic localization systems

•Investigating sensory behavior and ecology Investigating sensory behavior and ecology •acoustic behavior (e.g. vocalization rates)acoustic behavior (e.g. vocalization rates)•foraging & reproductive behavior and ecology foraging & reproductive behavior and ecology •responses to natural environmental stimuliresponses to natural environmental stimuli•responses to man-made noiseresponses to man-made noise

•Oceanographic data samplers (light, temp, etc)Oceanographic data samplers (light, temp, etc)

•Tagging/monitoring other large marine vertebratesTagging/monitoring other large marine vertebrates•sea-turtlessea-turtles•elasmobranchs (sharks, rays)elasmobranchs (sharks, rays)