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Want to Track Sharks? There's an App for That
8/28/2012

The solar-powered Wave Glider includes an acoustic receiver that tracks the location of sharks. Information from the tags is transmitted along a network of buoys in areas where sharks are known to congregate and connects to an iPhone/iPad app so users also can follow the sharks, as well as view interactive maps and information about them.   (Source: Stanford University)
The solar-powered Wave Glider includes an acoustic receiver that tracks the location of sharks. Information from the tags is transmitted along a network of buoys in areas where sharks are known to congregate and connects to an iPhone/iPad app so users also can follow the sharks, as well as view interactive maps and information about them.
(Source: Stanford University)

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williamlweaver
User Rank
Platinum
Ubiquitous Location Tracking
williamlweaver   8/28/2012 9:10:20 AM
NO RATINGS
Why should the location of 7 Billion Humans be the only thing that is tracked? Let's start tracking all of the planet's organisms. That is of course until the Great Whites file a class action law suit for privacy violations. ...why else would Lawyers be called "sharks"?

Jennifer Campbell
User Rank
Gold
Re: Ubiquitous Location Tracking
Jennifer Campbell   8/28/2012 10:11:06 AM
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@williamlweaver - based on the world we live in today, you are probably not too far off when you say the great whites will be filing a suit regarding privacy. I'm sure there is an activist group out there who thinks this is just plain wrong/inhumane.

I, however, applaud this effort and hope to see it expanded. We sure could use it up here in Massachusetts.

 

williamlweaver
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Ubiquitous Location Tracking
williamlweaver   8/28/2012 10:47:36 AM
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I'm with you @Jennifer! 
 
I was totally tongue-in-cheek with a dash of devil's advocate. As a sensors guy, I love this story. I'm especially jazzed about the "Bue Serengeti Initiative". It is difficult to make effective policy and manage resources effectively if all you have to base it on is intuition and gut feeling --- hard data is always the answer.  =]


CLMcDade
User Rank
Iron
shark tracking
CLMcDade   8/28/2012 11:29:08 AM
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Elizabeth,

Nice article. 

The amount of punishment this device will experience out on the open sea will be tremendous.  Did they mention any of the provisions or features they included to help it survive?  For example, how does the craft right itself after being flipped by waves? 

Ann R. Thryft
User Rank
Blogger
Re: shark tracking
Ann R. Thryft   8/28/2012 12:44:08 PM
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Clinton, the Wave Glider is an amazing machine. We included it in our Nautical Robots slideshow:
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=246206&image_number=3
It's won world distance records for unmanned devices, traveling more than 3,200 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean. I think it recently broke that distance record. You can check out its specs here:
http://liquidr.com/technology/wave-glider-specifications/

CLMcDade
User Rank
Iron
shark tracker
CLMcDade   8/28/2012 1:39:06 PM
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Thanks for the reference links, Ann.  I look forward to watching them.

Obviously this device has proven itself to be extremely durable and robust.  I didn't realize that it had such pedigree. 

Rob Spiegel
User Rank
Blogger
Tracking tagged sharks
Rob Spiegel   8/28/2012 4:41:23 PM
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Nice article, Elizabeth. Since this tracker tracks tagged sharks, is there a good number of sharks that are tagged. Is there in ongoing effort to tag more sharks?

Charles Murray
User Rank
Blogger
Re: Tracking tagged sharks
Charles Murray   8/28/2012 5:11:33 PM
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I'm curious how anyone places a tracking tag on a great white.

Rob Spiegel
User Rank
Blogger
Re: Tracking tagged sharks
Rob Spiegel   8/29/2012 9:57:49 AM
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Good question, Chuck. I'm also wondering what portion of the great white population is tagged. If it's a small portion, a reading that says there are no sharks in the area won't indicate any real safety.

Ann R. Thryft
User Rank
Blogger
Re: Tracking tagged sharks
Ann R. Thryft   8/29/2012 12:08:49 PM
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At a considerable distance, I'd guess. Wonder if they shoot it with an underwater version of a tranquilizer gun, like the ones used on bears?

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