For biologists who aren't down with
tracking blazing fast cheetahs and computer engineers who aren't keen on their hardware just galloping away, strapping solar-powered communicators on none other than a 40-pound
turtle was a no-brainer. Dubbed M16, the giant snapper commandeered by scientists from the University of Massachusetts is now sporting a "postcard-sized waterproof computer" that tracks and records data about the endangered species and beams it back to the campus when the creature moseys on by a base station. Much like a few
military applications we've
seen, the idea here is to "create a network of constantly moving devices (or animals) that record and store information, transmit data from one device to another," and finally upload it into a database. No word on whether
webcams or high-powered
lasers will get added in to the second wave of shell-bound rigs.
posted July 6th 2007 2:41PM
July 6, 2007: Strapped solar panel to a turtle and release it at Station 1.
September 14, 2010: Turtle passed Station 2. Distance traveled was 11 feet.
January 4, 2015: No word from turtle. Completed physical inspection of scene. Found turtle had died of boredom on way to Station 3. Also found note stating "I am a turtle. Please don't stick things on my shell. It makes finding a mate difficult."
You had the perfect situation to use the phrase "TURTLE POWER" and you blew it. Way to go Engadget. :(
I want a fricken turtle with a fricken laser beam on its fricken head!
I, for one, welcome our solar powered slow moving overlords.
Ummm... don;t turtles breath through their shell? yeah, just tape and glue it all up... great way to save the endangered species.
I want to clarify- they do not breath exclusively through the shell but it also does need to breath-
"Both the carapace and the plastron of a tortoise or turtle is comprised of living tissue. It needs oxygen
and exposure to sunlight to keep healthy."
I'm surprised they had to use tape since everyone knows turtles are nature's suction cups.
Millions of years of evolution to match the earth-tone colors of its surroundings in hopes to hide from far away predators... and we go and put a shiny "come and get me" sign on their back. Poor turtles.
Isn't that panel glued onto the females mounting sweet spot...
Watch out, Mario is going to step on ya!
first the technology was tested on slow-moving turtles, later big red buses. Finally man himself became the subject of the tag-and-track system...
Why oh why....
You know most turtles move fast. Ive seen a few down by the pond near my house and those things are real speed deamons on land. They are about the size of the one in the picture above too. Now Im not sure how fast one of those giant sea turtles moves, but I wouldent want one of those blocking my path.
Why can't they just leave the poor turtles alone?