Animal-borne imaging and data logging system
AssigneeNational Geographic Society
InventorGregory John Marshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An animal-borne instrumentation system having an integrated tail assembly that reduces hydrodynamic drag while inducing positive buoyancy and providing increased useable space for instrumentation storage. The system comprises a submersible, pressure-resistant housing and means for harnessing the housing to an animal under study. The housing is designed to contain any combination of image and data-logging and/or transmission equipment useful for obtaining information about the animal or its habitat, as well as other gear necessary to support such equipment.
Claims38
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a vacuum-assisted suction attachment means, and
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal further comprises a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a floy tag.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal further comprises epoxy,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a fin attachment means,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal further comprises a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a mechanical squib release.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a contiguous cavity disposed therein, said housing comprising:
- a body having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a nose assembly connected to said forward end of said body;
- a tail assembly connected to said rearward end of said body;
- and
- means for securing said housing to said animal,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal comprises a suction cup,
- wherein said means for securing said housing to said animal further comprises a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a submersible housing having a cavity, said housing comprising a body having opposing first and second ends;
- a tail assembly connected to said first end of said body;
- a nose assembly connected to said second end of said body;
- and
- a vacuum-assisted suction attachment means moveably affixed to said housing,
- wherein said vacuum-assisted suction attachment means is affixed to said housing by a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a submersible housing having a cavity, said housing comprising a body having opposing first and second ends;
- a tail assembly connected to said first end of said body;
- a nose assembly connected to said second end of said body;
- and
- a fin attachment means affixed to said housing,
- wherein said fin attachment means is affixed to said housing by a burn-wire system.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a submersible housing having a cavity, said housing comprising a body having opposing first and second ends;
- a tail assembly connected to said first end of said body;
- a nose assembly connected to said second end of said body;
- a tether having opposing first and second ends, said first end of said tether being affixed to said housing;
- and
- fin attachment means affixed to said second end of said tether.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a submersible housing having a cavity, said housing comprising a body having opposing first and second ends;
- a tail assembly connected to said first end of said body;
- a nose assembly connected to said second end of said body;
- and
- a floy tag affixed to said housing.
A system for securing instrumentation to an animal, comprising:
- a housing having a cavity, said housing comprising a body having opposing first and second ends;
- a tail assembly connected to said first end of said body;
- a nose assembly connected to said second end of said body;
- and
- a mechanical squib release affixed to said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.