Meeting Abstract

P1.75  Friday, Jan. 4  Design of a phased array acoustic tracking system for flight biomechanics tracking studies MANSFIELD, S*; EVANGELISTA, D; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley devangel77b@gmail.com

We are developing a phased array acoustic tracking system intended for use in several types of biological study: 1) biomechanical studies of flying animals in which the trajectory and data about wingbeat frequency and movement is needed; 2) ecological studies of acoustic communication or behavioural ecology; 3) surveys to count and locate species based on audible calls. Other uses are also possible. A phased array uses the phase or time difference of arrival of sound at multiple microphones to estimate position of a sound source, such as a wingbeat, chirp, whistle or other acoustic signal. The prototype system consists of multiple microphone and amplifier boards connected via an analog-to-digital converter to a computer that performs the phased array signal processing. The end goal is a low cost system, portable and field-deployable by a single researcher, and an open source, modular design able to be modified or scaled up or down or combined according to the needs of individual researchers and the constraints of particular projects. The current design, remaining design challenges, and preliminary performance in tracking of flying animals will be discussed.