Passive Amplification for Wildlife Recording

Abstract

Backyard Brains, in conjunction with previous MDP projects, has developed a device to collect and store audio data from the wild to detect and differentiate between birdsongs, insects, and rainfall. My MDP team is currently working to optimize the device to make it more manufacturable, user friendly, and ready to ship to Ecuador for field trials. During device testing in the first half of 2021, it became evident that the enclosure solution used to house the PCB was significantly dampening audio waves, causing recordings made with the device while housed in the enclosure to be muted and difficult to identify. The team, in conjunction with Backyard Brains, decided to pursue passive sound amplification to remedy this problem, using a design process to produce a final recommended amplifier shape for the prototype.