System and method for detecting bats and their impact on wind facilities
First Claim
1. A bat detection system comprising:
- an upper bat echo-location call detection unit comprising an upper bat echo-location call detection unit housing and an audio detector connected to the bat echo-location call detection unit housing;
a base computer unit comprising a base computer unit housing which encloses a data processor, a data storage device, anda remote communication interface device;
wherein the data processor is operatively connected to the data storage device, remote communication interface device, and the upper bat echo-location call detection unit audio detector,wherein the audio detector feeds continuous data to the data processor in the base computer unit, andwherein the data processor determines whether a detected sound is indicative of a bat sound.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting bats from a remote location. In one aspect the invention provides a bat detection system comprising an upper detection unit connected to a base computer unit. The upper detection unit can be positioned on a vertical structure, and a second lower detection unit, or additional detection units, can also be positioned on the vertical structure. Each detection unit comprises a housing which is connected to, and contains, an audio detector. The base computer unit is enclosed by a housing and comprises a data processor, a data storage device, and a remote communication interface device. The data processor is operatively connected to the data storage device, remote communication interface device, and the audio detectors of any detection units positioned on the vertical structure. The base computer unit communicates with a remote computer transferring information regarding the bat sounds detected by the detection units.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A bat detection system comprising:
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an upper bat echo-location call detection unit comprising an upper bat echo-location call detection unit housing and an audio detector connected to the bat echo-location call detection unit housing; a base computer unit comprising a base computer unit housing which encloses a data processor, a data storage device, and a remote communication interface device; wherein the data processor is operatively connected to the data storage device, remote communication interface device, and the upper bat echo-location call detection unit audio detector, wherein the audio detector feeds continuous data to the data processor in the base computer unit, and wherein the data processor determines whether a detected sound is indicative of a bat sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of detecting bat sounds comprising:
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providing a bat detection system, including; an upper bat echo-location call detection unit comprising an upper bat echo-location call detection unit housing and an audio detector connected to the bat echo-location call detection unit housing; a base computer unit comprising a base computer unit housing which encloses a data processor, a data storage device, and a remote communication interface device; wherein the data processor is operatively connected to the data storage device, remote communication interface device, and the upper bat echo-location call detection unit audio detector, wherein the audio detector feeds continuous data to the data processor in the base computer unit, wherein the data processor is suitably programmed to perform, and performs, a filter analysis of the continuous stream of data from the audio detector so that when the intensity of the sound reaches a preset threshold and falls within a certain frequency range, the data processor records this data as a sound file of UP to a fixed length on the data storage device, and wherein the data processor determines whether a detected sound is indicative of a bat sound, wherein the data comprises information concerning sound detected by the audio detector including information on the intensity of the sound detected and the frequency of the sound detected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of detecting bat sounds comprising:
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providing an audio detector operatively connected to a data processor; detecting the sounds of bats by the audio detector, wherein the detector feeds continuous data to the data processor, wherein the data comprises information concerning sound detected by the audio detectors including information on the intensity of the sound detected and the frequency of the sound detected; wherein the data processor is suitably programmed to perform, and performs, a filter analysis of the continuous stream of data from the audio detector so that when the intensity of the sound reaches a preset threshold and falls within a certain frequency range, the data processor records this data as a sound file of a fixed length on a data storage device operatively connected to the data processor; wherein the data processor is suitably programmed to perform, and performs, a bat call identification analysis on the sound files recorded in the filter analysis process to determine whether the sound file contains a bat sound; wherein the data processor marks in a log file on the data storage device indicating if the sound file has a bat call or no bat call; and wherein the data processor is suitably programmed to transmit, and transmits, the sound file, via a remote communication interface device operatively connected to the data processor, to a remote computer, and wherein the data processor analyzes and determines whether a sound detected by the auto detector is indicative of a bat sound. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A bat echo-location detection unit, comprising:
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a housing having an interior side, an exterior side and at least one opening between the interior side and the exterior side; and an ultrasonic receiving audio detector located at least partly in the interior of the housing, wherein the detector is located to detect sound through the opening, wherein the housing further comprises a flat one-direction reflection plate positioned to allow sound to reflect directly from the reflection plate to the detector, wherein the reflection plate is located at a lower end of the exterior side of the housing, wherein the reflection plate is located at a lower end of the exterior side of the housing, wherein the housing further comprises a back wall, and the reflection plate is connected to the back wall at approximately a 45 degree angle from the back wall, wherein the reflection plate is positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle from the opening. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification