Fig 1.
Interdisciplinary specifications for species-specific animal trackers.
Biological specifications include requirements regarding species, quantities and experiments. Engineering specifications include selection of electronic components and manufacturability.
Fig 2.
Challenges in the development process of animal trackers.
Key challenges in the process from observation to field experiments are the large biodiversity, changing circumstances in nature, interdisciplinary communication, and time-intensive development and manufacturing processes.
Fig 3.
Vision for automated development process of animal trackers.
An online platform for the auto-generation of animal trackers by biologists is the core component for the automation of engineering processes.
Fig 4.
Software architecture of the online platform.
The front-end of the online platform includes a biology and an engineering interface to modify specifications. The back-end includes databases for electronic components and past projects, and two software blocks for the selection of electronic components and the generation of housing geometries.
Fig 5.
Part architecture of the animal trackers.
All trackers considered in the design automation prototype share the same potential types and spatial order of electronic components: battery, PCB, and solar cell. The battery is always closest to the animal’s body.
Fig 6.
Software architecture of the DA prototype.
The electronic components are specified in an excel file. The excel file is imported into a CAD environment with a graphical user interface. The user interface allows manipulation of design parameters. The CAD environment has access to electronic components in a component library and C# algorithms that generate the geometries.
Fig 7.
Automated design steps in the software prototype.
1. Import and placement of electronic components, 2. Shell design around the components, 3. Design of adhesive joint and ribs for fixation of electronic components in the housing, 4. Selection and design of an animal attachment, and 5. Design synthesis and export of 3D printable housing geometries.
Fig 8.
Overview of three use cases: (A) Egyptian fruit bat, (B) Olive baboon, and (C) Black vulture.
The following information is provided for each use case: selected electronic components, design parameters, generated CAD geometries, and 3D printed housings made of PA12.
Fig 9.
Mass of animal tracker prototypes.
The total mass of the animal trackers consists of the housing and electronic components.