Turtle Sense - Revision history

Sam: /* 2015 season */

2022-03-07T09:39:07Z

2015 season

Sam: /* 2014 season */ stored version in website

2022-03-07T09:31:25Z

2014 season: stored version in website

Sam: /* Data */ ''

2022-03-07T09:21:52Z

Data: ''

Sam: /* Data */ link to raw data

2022-03-07T08:03:27Z

Data: link to raw data

Sam: Thank you

2022-03-05T09:03:07Z

Thank you

Dave: /* Phase Three Goals */ add link and changed to description

2016-06-21T23:55:38Z

Phase Three Goals: add link and changed to description

Sam: /* Hardware */ 64K

2015-12-30T00:35:17Z

Hardware: 64K

Sam: /* 2015 season */ update

2015-12-30T00:12:18Z

2015 season: update

Sam: cleaning up

2015-08-12T09:23:08Z

cleaning up

Sam: /* Phase Two results */ Moving results to a separate page

2015-08-12T08:59:48Z

Phase Two results: Moving results to a separate page

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 ===2015 season===
-We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]
+We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
 For graphs of the nests that were monitored see:  [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ===2014 season===
 :''For more detail, see:
-* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
+* [http://media.turtlesense.org/2014_Turtle_Sense_final_report.pdf  National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
 * [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==Data==
-:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]""
+:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]''
 [[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
 The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time.  The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second.  The magnitude is squared and summed.  After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over.  The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period.  This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information.  We lose but we suspect that those details are not important.  The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest.  Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==Data==
 [[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
 The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time.  The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second.  The magnitude is squared and summed.  After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over.  The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period.  This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information.  We lose but we suspect that those details are not important.  The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest.  Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:03, 5 March 2022
Line 137:		Line 137:
	==Contact us==		==Contact us==
	If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.		If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.
		+
		+	Thank You!

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 For graphs of the nests that were monitored see:  [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]
-==Phase Three Goals==
+==Phase Three Description==
 Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season.  The goals of Phase Three are:
 *To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.

@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 * Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
 * Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two.  This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
-* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 128K while lowering power usage.
+* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.
 ===Software===
 * Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM.  Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager.  Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks.  Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014.  The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects.  All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time.  The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.
-==Phase One Description==
+==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
 [[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013).  The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
-For Phase One, a motion and temperature sensor sealed in a ping-pong ball was placed in the sea turtle nest. It was connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small low-powered microprocessor to send out text messages with the motion and temperature data.  Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg.  After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach.  All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Field tests done at Hatteras in 2013 were positive.  The tests were done at the end of the nesting season, and unfortunately the eggs did not hatch.  However, the signal from a single surviving hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for the extensive tests planned for 2014.
+Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season.  A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable.  The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor.  The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours.  The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.
-==Phase One Results (2013 Turtle Season)==
+Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg.  After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach.  All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network.  Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.
 ==Phase Two Description==
 ''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]
-Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One.  Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013.  Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014.  We hope to install up to 20 sensors and 10 communications units through the Summer of 2014 and hope to predict some nest hatching beforehand.
+Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One.  Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013.  Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014.  About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.
-Several problems were identified during Phase One that we hope to address in Phase Two:
+Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
 *The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit.  This is being addressed in two ways.  The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest.  The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
 [[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver.  Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
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 Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
 ===Hardware===
-* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries.  Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing.  Initial testing is very positive.  There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even with any light the units would continue running for several weeks.
+* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
 * Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable.  This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit.  Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
 * Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
@@ Line 85: / Line 84: @@
 ==Data==
 [[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
-The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time.  The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second.  The magnitude of the jolt is placed on a logarithmic scale divided into 25 different ranges.  The ratio between the lower and higher limit of each range is the square root of two.  A counter for each of the different ranges is incremented whenever a jolt reading is in that range.  Each counter may be thought of as a bin.  If a magnitude is in range, it is thrown into the bin for that range.  After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and a new set of bins counters is started.  By looking at how many readings were in each bin, we can get an idea of what jolts occurred while the bins for that record were being filled.    This allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information.  We lose precision with all the readings and the exact sequence, but we suspect that those details are not important.  The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest.
+The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time.  The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second.  The magnitude is squared and summed.  After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over.  The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period.  This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information.  We lose but we suspect that those details are not important.  The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest.  Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.
 There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest.  It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged.  Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil.  We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 == Phase Two results==
 ===2014 season===
 :''For more detail, see:
@@ Line 56: / Line 57: @@
 We are currently monitoring nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For up to date predictions and graphs of data, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]
-Here are graphs of nests where hatchlings have emerged:
+For graphs of all the nests where hatchlings have emerged see:  [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]
 ==Phase Three Goals==