Sirenia (Manatee)
Buoy with TGSAT – GNSS + Iridium
Buoy with TGB – GNSS + Bluetooth Long-Range
Tail-belt with VHF radio-tracking
Manatee fitted with a tracking buoy
Typical species:
Trichechus manatus, Trichechus inunguis, Trichechus senegalensis
Attachment:
For manatees, the most suitable tracking configuration is generally a floating buoy system, which can be TGB, TGSAT or VHF. A belt-mounted VHF transmitter may also be considered, when the risk of entanglement is very high.
With a buoy system, the attachment is secured around the tail and connected to a floating tracking unit, by a flexible tether or extension rod. The extension is weakened at the tail’s edge to break in case of entanglement.
Tracking options:
TGSAT – GNSS + Iridium Satellite Constellation
TGB – GNSS + Bluetooth Long-Range
VHF radio-tracking
TGSAT – GNSS + Iridium Satellite
A GNSS-based wildlife monitoring system that records location and sensor data according to a user-defined schedule. The unit transmits information remotely through the Iridium satellite network to a password-protected web platform, allowing researchers to access data without physically approaching the animal.
TGSAT also includes Bluetooth communication for local programming, direct data retrieval and system interaction using the Telenax app on a compatible Android tablet or mobile device. Unless specifically requested, this Bluetooth connection is intended primarily for nearby communication as is not optimized for the maximum retrieval range available with TGB systems.
Main advantages:
- GNSS positions and supporting sensor data (gyroscope, accelerometer, activity level, temperature, battery voltage)
- Access to transmitted information through a secure and password-protected web platform
- Broad global satellite-network coverage through Iridium with message-delivery confirmation
- Flexible, user-defined recording and transmission schedules
- Bluetooth communication for local programming, diagnostics and backup data retrieval
- Compatible with Android tablets and mobile devices
- VHF transmitter included to help locate the animal or the unit in the field
Important considerations:
- Satellite transmission requires considerably more energy than VHF tracking or locally stored Bluetooth-retrieval systems
- Satellite service and data-transmission charges apply
- Successful communication depends on antenna orientation, animal position, sky visibility, terrain, vegetation and other uncontrollable conditions. Therefore, sometimes the data may not be transmitted as often as desired.
- VHF Receiver and VHF Directional antenna are required for the VHF capability
- Android device is required for short-range communication (data retrieval, itinerary configuration and itinerary upload)
Best for:
- Animals that are difficult or impractical to approach regularly
- Projects conducted in remote or extensive study areas
- Wide-ranging or migratory species
- Projects where data availability is needed more frequently than field retrieval would allow
- Animals large enough to carry the required satellite-communication hardware and battery
- Projects in which the benefits of remote data transmission justify the additional energy demand and service costs
- High-budget studies
- Due to today’s demands, this is the most widely used technology on terrestrial animals that can carry the weight and size of these devices
Telenax GPS interaction App (TGI) for TGSAT units
The TGI Android app allows researchers to program operating schedules, configure GNSS and sensor acquisition, retrieve stored data automatically or on demand, calculate expected operating life, perform pre-deployment checks and control optional drop-off systems.
Full set
– Create, modify and Protect your Itinerary
– Upload itinerary to the unit
– Download data
– Activate Drop-off
– Autonomous or user-controlled
– Pre-deployment verification
Itinerary
– Build fully custom tracking schedules
– GNSS fixes as often as once per minute, by ranges, at specific times, or any mix
– Configurable GNSS timeout tuned to terrain (open desert, dense jungle…)
– Assign different daily schedules to different days of the year, as desired
Battery Calculator
Estimate operating life based on:
– YOUR created Itinerary
– Your particular unit
– Main Temperature
– GNSS Time To Fix
– Total life
– From project’s Starting Date to Finish Date
Two Iridium modes
– Live: Attempts communication after every successful GNSS fix)
– Energy Efficient batched sending — up to ~4x the battery life
Final checkup
Pre-deployment verification of battery, itinerary, and initialization status
Release with confidence
Sensors and Project-Specific Capabilities
Included on all GNSS fixes on both TGB and TGSAT units:
- Three-axis gyroscope
- Three-axis accelerometer
- Temperature sensor (of device, not necessarily of animal)
- Activity level, normalized from 0 to 100
- Speed (provided by GNSS)
- Battery voltage
- “Animal not moving” notification
- Geofence notifications available through the satellite system
- Highly flexible operating itineraries for GPS acquisition, data transmission, drop-off activation
- Battery life calculator based on your created Itinerary
- VHF transmitter
- Activity, inactivity and mortality on VHF transmitter (not included when VHF battery life requires to be extended to the maximum possible)
- Number of acquired satellites and HDOP
- Data provided in CSV and KML (Google Earth) formats for further analysis
Optional features:
- Automated Release system (drop-off) which can be activated by:
- Exact date
- Number of days after activation
- On-demand through Bluetooth communication
- Water sensor: The unit will halt the GNSS acquisition when in water and will attempt it once it senses the device is out of the water.
- Biodegradable release link
- Fully independent VHF (own battery and electronics)
TGB – GNSS + Long-Range Bluetooth
A GNSS-based wildlife monitoring system that records location and sensor data according to a user-defined schedule. The stored information can be retrieved periodically through a long-range Bluetooth connection using the Telenax app on an Android tablet or mobile device whenever it comes within communication range.
Data retrieval can be performed manually by visiting the study area, or autonomously by leaving an Android device at a location frequently visited by the animal. A compatible device may also be carried by a drone where regulations, terrain and operating conditions permit.
Main advantages:
- GNSS positions and supporting sensor data (gyroscope, accelerometer, activity level, temperature, battery voltage)
- Flexible, user-defined recording schedules
- No satellite subscription or per-message communication charges
- Automatic or on-demand Bluetooth data retrieval
- Compatible with Android tablets and mobile devices
- VHF transmitter included to help locate the animal or approach the unit before Bluetooth retrieval
- Lower energy demand than satellite-transmission systems (longer life for same size-weight)
Important considerations:
- Stored data cannot be retrieved until the unit comes within Bluetooth communication range
- Practical range depends on vegetation, terrain, antenna and other obstructions
- The project must include a realistic data-retrieval strategy
- Usually, VHF transmitter is used for locating and approaching at a greater distance, then the Bluetooth is used for data retrieval
- VHF Receiver and VHF Directional antenna are required for the VHF capability
- Modified Android device and external Bluetooth antenna are required for longest-range data retrieval
Best used for:
- Easily accessible animals
- Medium-budget studies
- When the Android device can periodically approach the animal or vice versa (tens to a few hundreds of meters)
- Small animals that are not capable to handle the extra weight and restrictions of systems that include GSM or Satellite data retrieval
- Animals that can carry GNSS equipment but where satellite communication hardware would add unnecessary weight, energy consumption or cost
Telenax GPS interaction App (TGI) for TGB
The TGI Android app allows researchers to program operating schedules, configure GNSS and sensor acquisition, retrieve stored data automatically or on demand, calculate expected operating life, perform pre-deployment checks and control optional drop-off systems.
Full set
– Create, modify and Protect your Itinerary
– Upload itinerary to the unit
– Download data
– Activate Drop-off
– Autonomous or user-controlled
– Pre-deployment verification
Itinerary
– Build fully custom tracking schedules
– GNSS fixes as often as once per minute, by ranges, at specific times, or any mix
– Configurable GNSS timeout tuned to terrain (open desert, dense jungle…)
– Assign different daily schedules to different days of the year, as desired
Battery Calculator
Estimate operating life based on:
– YOUR created Itinerary
– Your particular unit
– Main Temperature
– GNSS Time To Fix
– Total life
– From project’s Starting Date to Finish Date
Automated
Leave the Android device on-site and let it do the work on its own
– Data downloading
– Drop-off activation
Final checkup
Pre-deployment verification of battery, itinerary, and initialization status
Release with confidence
Sensors and Project-Specific Capabilities
Included on all GNSS fixes
- Three-axis gyroscope
- Three-axis accelerometer
- Temperature sensor (of device, not necessarily of animal)
- Activity level, normalized from 0 to 100
- Speed (provided by GNSS)
- Battery voltage
- “Animal not moving” notification
- Highly flexible operating itineraries for GPS acquisition, data transmission, drop-off activation
- Battery life calculator based on your created Itinerary
- VHF transmitter
- Activity, inactivity and mortality on VHF transmitter (not included when VHF battery life requires to be extended to the maximum possible)
- Number of acquired satellites and HDOP
- Data provided in CSV and KML (Google Earth) formats for further analysis
Optional features:
- Automated Release system (drop-off) which can be activated by:
- Exact date
- Number of days after activation
- On-demand through Bluetooth communication
- Water sensor: The unit will halt the GNSS acquisition when in water and will attempt it once it senses the device is out of the water.
- Biodegradable release link
- Fully independent VHF (own battery and electronics)
TX – VHF Radio Tracking
The most lightweight and highly energy-efficient and proven technology for locating animals directly in the field.
Transmitters (TX) emit pulsed electromagnetic signals at user-defined specific frequencies, alternating with silent intervals. Researchers detect these signals using a handheld receiver and a directional antenna to find the signal’s direction. Drawing lines from two different points toward the signal creates an intersection that pinpoints the transmitter’s location.
Main advantages:
- Activity, inactivity and mortality sensing may be available
- Very low power consumption
- Very small and lightweight
- Long operating life
- No extra service costs
- Direct field location at any time
- VHF localization is often included as a supporting feature in GPS-based tracking systems
Important considerations:
- Researchers must actively search for the signal whenever a location or status check is required
- Practical detection range depends strongly on terrain, vegetation, antenna, animal behavior and transmitter configuration
- VHF provides directional location information rather than automatically recorded GPS positions
- VHF Receiver and VHF Directional antenna are required
Best for:
- Survival, dispersal and presence-monitoring studies
- Cost-sensitive projects
- Species that do not move too far (from hundreds of meters to a few kilometers)
- Small species that cannot carry heavier GPS-based equipment
- When researchers can easily conduct field searches
- When low weight, long operating life is a priority
- Detect presence in the area at any desired moment
