Orca Talk
Lead PI
Co PIs
- Jorg Rychen, (ETC Zurich)
- Julie Semoroz
- Alexander Eckerle
- Richard Hahnloser, (ETH Zurich)
Abstract
Cetaceans show high cognitive abilities and strong social bonds. Acoustics are their primary modality for interacting with conspecifics and sensing the environment. We design and implement a system for acoustically interacting with cetaceans in the wild in which acoustic signals flow in both directions simultaneously (full-duplex), featuring digital echo-suppression. We tested the system in a pilot experiment in Arctic Norway, where killer whales and humpback whales cruise the waters. The full-duplex system allowed us to vocally interact with the underwater acoustic scene by being able to listen while producing sounds.