Remus Sharkcam Case Study

To whom it may concern at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: As we were able to learn more about the REMUS SharkCam, I would like to compliment the hard work of the scientists to acquire the data on sharks. Many people usually depict sharks as dangerous marine animals but with the footage it was seen that they are only living their lives responding with what their natural instinct tells them as any other animal, including us. It was amazing to learn the sixth and seventh sense sharks have and how they are able to smell a drop of blood from far away. In addition, I was able to learn that the eyes of the sharks have rods that measure brightness but not cones that distinguish color. The REMUS SharkCam is also a very important step into monitoring sharks and other marine creatures in the future as it will allow us to learn their way of
living and what we can do to help them, the ideas are great but it will need improvements as to the effects it has on sharks. After months of investigating and researching about the science behind the REMUS SharkCam and sharks, I claim that the Ampule of Lorenzini, that can receive electrical signals from movements of other organisms, and the Lateral Line, which can sense the changes in the water currents, are the parts that are mostly being affected by the REMUS SharkCam. Sharks can sense frequencies from ten hertz to eight hundred hertz from their Ampule of Lorenzini and twenty-five to fifty hertz through their Lateral Line. Therefore, sharks can sense the propeller and other parts that emit and transit electricity. As a result, there needs to be a solution to minimize the amount of electricity and vibrations and not attract the attention of the sharks. Despite the REMUS SharkCam having a great design to track Great White sharks, I would like to propose a solution to the technology’s issues that it has encountered. As a scientist, I suggest that the size should be decreased so the circuits could be shorter therefore the electricity would not have to travel as much to get to the propeller and cameras. Also, the color could be black and silver which is related to the Pilot fish’s colors that have a special relationship with sharks that could prove to be useful since sharks are not bothered by Pilot fish and it can prevent the REMUS SharkCam from being attacked. Another modification that could be done is to change the propellers into curved foil tipped propellers in order to reduce the noise it causes. It was also demonstrated that if there were more propellers the noise would decrease as well as the thrust, however the modified REMUS SharkCam would be lighter due to the change of size. In regard of the cameras, they will be decreased in number and be exchanged for 360 degree cameras in the top and bottom in order to minimize the amount of electricity that would be needed. In addition, foil would be added to work as an acoustic damper to isolate the vibration the motor creates and all the other parts that create vibrations. Rubber would be used to keep the electricity in the REMUS SharkCam and prevent it to going outside. The Magnetic Power Switch would be taken out since sharks are able to sense magnets since they travel around the world tracking the electromagnetic field. These were some modifications my team and I decided on. The data that would be obtained of Great White sharks by my solution’s design include the measure of the current’s speed and it will be able to report the location and status.
In addition, it can determine the shark’s range, bearing, and depth as well as video recorded by only two cameras, reducing the amount of electricity being used. The Acoustic Doppler Cu tra Short Base line would help receive this data and therefore study it. With this data we can learn from them without having to cause interruptions when using the REMUS SharkCam. Although I have confidence in my design and the minimal effects on sharks, some limitations are that no matter what is being done, it will have electrical impulses and cause vibrations due to the movements it needs to make. It would appear as any other animal since every living organism produces energy and the Ampullae of Lorenzini can sense that. It will also cause noise that may be heard by other marine creatures including the shark itself and the cameras may catch the shark’s eye by its shape. However, we can minimize these so it wouldn’t be as obstructive to the life of the marine
animals. The next steps I can take to help the institution more adequately would be to research a bit more about the limitations although they cannot be fully eliminated. Also, I would continue to see other experiments that scientists had done with other sharks and fully inspect what happened and how we can use the same techniques to benefit us in the research of the Great White shark. In addition, I will fully study the elements sharks have and how much they can sense electricity at a full capacity to understand better what frequencies attract them more. In the end, I will study, research, and design in order to find out new ways to help us monitor the Great White without being a disturbance in their natural habitat and learn how they live normally without our vehicle catching their attention and being the target of their teeth.
Thank you for your time and dedication, Carime Albarran