Marine Mammal Tag Testing

The University of Michigan's Department of Mechanical Engineering is home to the ESTAR Lab. Researchers from the ESTAR Lab were testing new marine mammal tags, specifically checking how alignment of the tags affected the speed sensors within the tags. Two tags were placed on either side of a specially machined test plate and towed at speeds from 1 to 4 m/s (~2-8 mph). The tags were aligned in-line with the direction of tow (0 degrees), 45 degrees off, 90 degrees off (vertical) and 180 degrees off (backwards). The data collected from this set of tests will help researchers better understand the data they collect in the field, as it is very difficult to attach a tracking tag perfectly inline with a 18 meter (59 ft) long swimming whale while riding in small boat over choppy waters!