Acoustic System for Passive Acoustic Monitoring and Acoustic Communications

The technology comprises an integrated passive acoustic monitoring system capable of long-term monitoring, capturing high-quality, distinctive sonar sounds from aquatic environments.

The acoustic monitoring system, incorporating a hydrophone, a micro-processing board and a mechanical release system, functions by the hydrophone connected to the processing unit receiving sound signals from the environment, including aquatic animal vocalisations. These signals are then processed and saved on a storage unit such as an SD card so that the recorded sounds can be analysed in post-production. The system can also receive commands from a remote unit and transmit messages to the remote unit. The system remains deployed, monitoring the field for a desired period until it is retrieved using the incorporated mechanical release system. The release system is used to anchor the sensor to a submerged weight. Once a command is received, the sensor releases and a buoyant system then surfaces to be retrieved.

The passive acoustic monitoring technology is more easily deployed and retrieved by using a mechanical release technique. The technology employs a ropeless technique, which has the advantage of not obstructing or interrupting marine species or the environment. The locally produced product is made of high-quality materials and allows for proprietary detector algorithms unique to endemic species.