Solar Powered Battery Unit for an Offshore Hydrophone

• Main Authors: Advani, Bharat, Gradowski, Marty, Guden, Aiste, Lew, Michael, Stevens, David, AquaSol Solutions
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Killer Whale; Killer whale
• Online Access: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/21895

With the endangerment of resident killer whales along the British Columbia coastline, it is increasingly important to effectively track their migration patterns. The DFO currently employs land-based hydrophones to listen in on killer whale calls. AquaSol Solutions‘ proposed solar powered battery charging system would allow for hydrophones to be placed in remote offshore locations. The killer whale calls and battery status will be transmitted back to a land-based station via an ISM-band transmitter. The development of the battery charging and monitoring system will be based on the requirement of supplying continuous power for a duration of twelve days. It will also measure and transmit—to a desktop application—the state of charge and temperature of the batteries, and the humidity within the hardware circuitry enclosure. The system will be designed to allow for dynamic detection of up to two connected battery modules. Additionally, the system will provide alerts and safety shutdown mechanisms in case of unsafe operating conditions.