Lotek network

8/10/2019 Lotek network

1/15

Lotek Wireless Inc.


2/15

From a speech given by Jim Lotimer, co-founder andPresident of Lotek Wireless Inc., at the University ofWaterloo on June 7, 1999

Increasingly, the evidence points to an alarming conclusion: the sea, the cradle oflife, may be dying.

Can Lotek help? You bet we can.

We believe that the animal knows best. We are dedicated to developingadvanced equipment and analytical techniques that, when placed on freeranging wild animals and sh, provide the world with the knowledge required toscienti cally validate and assess the environment from the perspective of theanimal.

s booklet is a brief introduction to Lotekeless Inc., a Canadian company that has beengning and manufacturing innovative sh and

dlife monitoring devices since 1984.

report focuses on the ve attributes thatde ne who we are:

our passion for the environment (page 6)

our many partnerships (page 8)

the quality of our products (page 14)

our role as a solutions provider (page 20)

the dependability of our company (page 24)

Telemetry:

The highly automated communications processby which measurements are made and other datacollected at remote or inaccessible points andtransmitted to receiving equipment for monitoring,display, and recording.

(Encyclopdia Britannica)

onitoring the Environmentm the Animals Perspective

otek Wireless Inc.


3/15

Lotek Wireless core purposeis to deliver innovative solutionsfor a sustainable future.

Fish and wildlife around the world are in dangetheir water, their habits and their habitats are indisrupted by human activities.

We also live in exciting ti mes. The advances inand technology that allow human development so successfully also hold the key to protecting taffected by our intrusion into their habitats. Thprime purpose: we create technological innovatprotect our environment and its many precious

How can we assess the effect that human activiour world? We believe that one of the best wayour impact on the environment is to query its inLoteks efforts are directed at increasing mankito follow sh and wildlife further and further inown natural habitats. Our innovations equip cr with the means t o tell us about thei r health and of their environment. Excit ing technologies arto us today, and we specialize in employing theever smaller, ever more unobtrusive, ever morebiotelemetry devices.

Lotek systems follow sh and animals deep intand retrieve detailed data about their movemenhabits. How exactly? Think of equipping whaland salmon with tiny cell phones and computer

We live in challenging times.In the wake of mankindsunprecedented spread anddomination of the planet, manyof the worlds other species havesuffered signi cant, and in somecases irretrievable, losses.


4/15

do of course take great pride i n the technologicalmplishments of our team. But in fact, the key to whaty drives us is found in the second part of our slogan:livering innovative solutions for a sustainable future . Itsopportunity to contribute to long-term environmentalainability that most motivates our team and inspires ourmplishments.

ts why we focus on sh and wildlife monitoring, thoughelemetry techniques that weve designed have a myriadther potential uses as well. Lotek rst began, andinues to this day, as a partnership of engineers, biologistsmanufacturers devoted to furthering environmentalainability, by equipping animals with the means to reportk from the wild about their health, their habits, and theirtats.

ning sustainabilitywhat exactly is environmental sustainability, and how

we contribute to it? In 1987, the World Commission onironment and Development produced a report entitledr Common Future, which offered what has comee known as the Brundtland de nition: Sustainableelopment seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of theent without compromising the ability to meet those offuture. In subsequent re nements of this de nition,y have emphasized the need to balanceenvironmental ,

nomic and social resources what the World Bank hased the Earths three capital stocks. Ideas abound onbest ways to manage these stocks, but few dispute that athy environment must be one of the central pillars of anyainabilit y initiative. So the question then becomes: inquest for a sustainable balance of environment, economysociety, how exactly does one assess the health of theronment?

Giving sh and wildlife a sayLotek Wireless was founded on the premise that oneof the best ways to measure and monitor the worldsenvironmental capital is by giving voice to its non-humaninhabitants. Because many areas of the world are too harshor remote for human habitation, our knowledge of certainaspects of the environment remains extremely limited. Thisis especially true of underwater habitats; its not uncommonto hear the mysteries of the sea being compared to thoseof outer space. But by equipping sh, birds and animals

with biotelemetr y devices, suddenly we gai n a unique andunprecedented window not only into those creatures lives,but also into their previously inaccessible worlds.

In so doing, we are better able to assess the impact ofthe interactions between their worlds and ours. Wit hbiotelemetry, we now have the ability to nd out exactlyhow many salmon do or dont survive their journey down ariver and past a hydroelectric dam, and adjust our practicesaccordingly. We can follow an elephant seal up an entirecoastline and see exactly where and when she dives down tothe ocean oor to feed, and plan our coastal developmentsaccordingly. We can map the exact migratory path of acaribou through the arctic tundra, and so assess the impactof an adjacent industrial development on the animals herdand habitat.

Environmental explorationThe examples are many, and the potential is almost asvast as the number of species on the planet. Biotelemetricresearch today represents every bit as much of a newfrontier in mankinds efforts to understand the secrets ofour planets environment as the challenges facing explorerslike Robert Peary and Roald Amundsen did in their questto discover the secrets of its geography.

Lotek is honoured to be a leader in this knowledgerevolution. Were in the enviable position of having avery talented team that knows how to transform the latestadvances in electronics and computing into devices that aresmall and light and smart enough to track wild creatures, ofalmost any size, through almost any type of habitat. And were thrilled to be able to supply our i nnovations to somany of todays scienti c researchers, resource managersand other stewards of the environment, with whom we haveenjoyed very fruitful partnerships. Jim Lotimer & friends, N. Ontario c. 1979

ta resolution , burst rate ,de set , frequency range ...e a quick review of ourduct literature and web

e and youll be forgiven forncluding that Lotek is ahnology-driven company.

Lotek furthersenvironmentalsustainability byequipping animals wthe means to reportback from the wildabout their health,their habits, and theihabitats.

Were passionate abo ut the environment.


5/15

We partner with our clientsOften, its before a new telemetry system is even conceivedthat input from our research partners is most helpful.Indeed, many of our inventions have come about as a directresponse to biologists stated needs.

For example, when we rst became involved in trackingsalmon at a hydroelectric dam, researchers at the facility were still using i naccurate str ip-chart recorders (devicesthat record detected signals as pen movements on arotating drum). In addition to being imprecise, theirsystem also required a different receiver for every antenna,making deployment along any signi cant length of damor river both expensive and cumbersome. Hearing andunderstanding those problems, we designed two signi cantnew systems: ourSRX_400 receiver offered a robust and

exible microprocessor-controlled alternative to the damoperators strip-chart recorders, and its antenna-switchingcapability allowed them to connect multiple antennasto a single receiver. We were the rst to propose theseinnovations, and they changed the way that sh tracking isdone at dams.

Similarly, when the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resourcesrst wanted to do an environmental assessment of the

effect of logging on moose populations, the only radiocollars available at the time didnt provide position datathat was reliable or detailed enough, especially at night orunder forest canopy. The Ministr ys need for precise, 24-hour data on moose movements led Lotek to propose anddevelop the use of GPS (global positioning system) collarsfor wildlife. We were the rst company in the world tocreate a GPS collar for wildlife. Today, its the trackingmethod of choice for wildlife researchers who need to chartanimal migration patterns precisely and reliably.

Our partnership with researchers and managers continuesthroughout the development cycle of a new product. When we say that our systems are eld pr oven, werereferring in part to the invaluable input from partners whotest our prototypes and beta versions in actual eld researchsituations. Their feedback contributes signi cantly to there nement and optimization of our systems, to the bene tof all who use them.

Collaborations within our own teamOnce we know the needs of the research commbring their challenges to our own development where the next level of pa rtnership is se t into mProduct design at Lotek Wireless is a constant between Loteks biologists, engineers and man

We listen carefully to the b iologists in the eldtell us about their telemetry needs. A nd since biologists on our own team, we hear and under what they want. We know what its like to try tfollow an animal and be frustrated by the limitof traditional tracking methods, or thwarted byinhospitalities of a particularly harsh environm

Having our own in-house biological know-howto our engineering team, whose task it is to dessolution that will best utilize the technologies adisposal, while taking into account all of the bicharacteristics that determine exactly how thatmust work in the eld. Its one thing to designcan transmit a unique hello from a sh in thea receiver on the shore. Its quite another to matag tiny enough to be deployed on a salmon at tsmolt stage of its life cycle. Or smart enough that hello with equal ef cacy in both types o fresh and salt that the salmon will move its journey from river to ocean and back again.

And many other partnerships as wellDesigning, manufacturing, marketing regardproduct development stage, we strive to bring tspirit of collaboration to every aspect of our cooperations. For example, many of our parts suhave worked with us for years, helping us to m

demanding design speci cations. Similarly, wrelationships with all of the governments, educinstitutions, consortia, investors, companies anindividuals that we also call our partners. Theythe Government of Newfoundland, Queens Unthe U.S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Army Coof Engineers, the Great Lakes Fishery CommisInvesteco Capital, Northwest Marine TechnologSanjiro Co. Ltd., and many, many others. Eacha unique and valuable role in helping us to creasolutions and bring them successfully to markeFrom left to right: researchers observing tagged seals in Hokkaido, Japan;

deploying acoustic dataloggers in Newfoundland, Canada; acoustic dataloggerdeployment off the east coast of USA.

Ever since we delivered our rstcommercial telemetry systemback in 1984, Lotek Wireless hasintroduced many innovations thathave changed the way that biologiststrack sh and wildlife.

What makes our innovations

possible? Above all, we attribute oursuccess to our many partnerships.

In all aspects of our companys operations and throughoutour history, weve sought out and cultivated partnerships.First and foremost, there are the ongoing collaborationsthat we enjoy with our clients, the wildlife researchers andnatural resource managers of the world, who tell us whatthey need and test what we develop for them. Secondly,theres the synergy that comes from combining biologicaland engineering expertise within our own team. An d

nally, we also partner to great mutual bene t with variousinstitutions and industry allies, including governments,universities, parts suppliers, and other key stakeholders.

We succeed through partnerships.


6/15

Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Fishery

The Paci c Northwestregion of the UnitedStates is the location ofthe Columbia River, themost hydroelectricallydeveloped river system inthe world. The re are over400 dams throughout theColumbia River Basin,and collectively theyproduce more than 21million kilowatts of largelypollution-free electricity

almost half of Americas power. They also control oodingin some areas, and supply many others with enough new water to turn pre viously arid soil int o lush and productivefarmland.

As is often the c ase, what bene ts humans does not alwaysbene t other creatures. From an environmental viewpoint,the Paci c Northwest has paid an enormous price for itselectricity and irrigation. Stocks of salmon and other wild

sh on the Columbia are down to 1-2% of their historicallevels, prompting many to investigate the effects of dams onthe movement of sh through the river. A salmons life cyclerequires two impressive migrations: from river to ocean whenyoung, and from ocean to river when mature. Unobstructed,these journeys are challenging enough. Through multipledams and hydro facilities, they are considerably more dif cult.

Fish passage systemsFor this reason, billions of dollars have been invested inenvironmental research on the Columbia over the pastfew decades to assess and mitigate the impact of dams on

sh populations. Most of the regions dams were builtbefore 1970, when the environmental consequences ofdam construction were not fully anticipated. More recentdevelopments are therefore largely corrective in nature, with a focus on crea ting structur es and strategi es to aid shmigration and restore stocks to past levels. For example,many dams on the Columbia have now added sh passagesystems to their structures to help salmon, sturgeon, trout andother vital species navigate the river safely and ef ciently byproviding them with alternate passage routes that avoid damturbines.

To determine whether efforts to help sh past a dam aresuccessful or not, you have to be able to monitor theirmovements and behaviour. This is precisely where Lotekcontributes most to the Paci c Northwests massive andongoing environmental impact assessment efforts. For over15 years, we have partnered, to much mutual bene t, withmany of the Columbia Rivers federal and state agencies,Public Utilities Districts, native tribes and other stakeholders,all of whom are involved in the long-term effort to preservethe Columbia Basin shery. We consider ourselves fortunate

to be able to contribute solutions to their challengingissues, and honoured to be chosen as a preferred provider oftelemetry solutions by such organizations as the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),Oregon State University, and the University of Idaho, to namebut a few.

Lotek innovations to meet the challengeOur work with the Paci c Northwest has resulted in thecreation of some of our most innovative telemetry productsand solutions. These include our digitally encodedtransmitters and our SRX and DRX receiver systems, which

allow users to reliably monitor hundreds of indtagged sh on a single frequency. Simi larly, ouNanoTag a highly miniaturized, digitally entransmitter smaller than the eraser on the end o was rst developed to meet the evolving needs River researchers. When they rst began tracksalmon, they could only follow larger mature transmitters available at the time were still too on younger specimens. However, thanks to ourfocus on transmitter miniaturization, researcherable to monitor subyearling smolts less than 10length. Recently, for example, Columbia scienable to successfully follow the out-migration ofthousand salmon smolts for the rst time ever.

Global solutionsThe bene ts of our partnership with the Paci cstakeholders are not only mutual; they extend w According to the 200 0 Report of the World ComDams, there are more than 45,000 large dams intoday. The same report states that almost one brely on sh as their main source of animal protthe sustainability of sh stocks is a crucial globthe problems facing managers on the Columbiaalso challenging dam operators around the worthe Paci c Northwest as our incubator and provfor new sh monitoring technologies, Lotek is developing new tools that can be used to monitbehaviour and successful passage of sh at all d

Of all the many partnerships that Lotek has enjoyed over the years, one of ourmost long-standing, productive and rewarding to date is not with an individualresearcher, manager or agency, but with an entire watersheds efforts to sustainits shery.

TNERSHIP PROFILES


7/15

eing the Big Picture at Queens Universitys New Ecological Observatory

Over the years, wevedemonstrated that supportby contributing to, andcollaborating with, severaluniversities and academicprograms. Most recently, we have begun an excit ingpartnership with the Queens

versity Biological Station, Carleton University, and theois Natural History Survey (U. of Illinois) to create a newarch vehicle known as the Queens Ecological Observatory.

The new observatory has ambitious goals: in additionto serving as a testing ground for new biotelemetrytechnologies and as a centre for exchange between academicand industry experts, we intend for it to become a pioneersite for a new way to collaborate on ecological research the rst of many nodes for international data exchangeand analysis.

Using our most advanced acoustic tracking system,researchers at the observatory have already gathered twoentire years worth of daily data on a group of largemouthbass at Warner Lake near Kingston, Ontario. Not just

presence/absence data, mind you. TheMAP systemthat we supplied to the observatory has allowed them tocapture the precise 3-D location, and surrounding watertemperature, of each individual bass, every 15 seconds, 24hours a day, 365 days a year. Thats a lot of information so much, in fact, that it requires a large database just tostore it all, and special software tools to mine it for all of itsinsights into bass behaviour.

nlocking the Secrets of the Ocean with Dr. Barbara Block

Dr. Block, whose input wasintegral to the developmentof our powerful LTD 2310archival tag, is a professorin Marine Sciences at theHopkins Marine Station ofStanford University, and oneof the founders of its Tuna

earch and Conservation Center. Her research, which

investigates how large pelagic shes utilize the open oceanenvironment, requires smart and robust monitoring devicesthat can operate effectively on such species as giant blue ntuna.

Dr. Block provided crucial feedback to us about the betaversions of the LTD 2310. One early problem that she

reported involved the tags sensor stalk, which was initiallytoo abrasive for use on tuna. To remedy this, we tripledthe coating at the base of the stalk to increase the tagsbio-compatibilit y. Other modi cations followed, manybased on her valuable tests and input. Her meticuloustroubleshooting contributions were also a key factor inimprovements made to both the rmware within the tagand the software that interprets its collected data.

Thanks to our partnership, our LTD 2310 is now a tried-and-tested research tool, and Dr. Block has been able topioneer its use to gain valuable new insights into tuna

In fact, the abundant spatial and temporal informationbeing collected will continue to reveal new facts about

sh, sh interactions and lake ecology for years to come.The intent of the Queens Ecological Observatory is tomake its data available for scientists in other universitiesand countries to analyze as well. The ability to view whatamounts to a continuous data movie of a group of sh and eventually other animals as well reacting notonly to their environment but also to each other, on such a

ne scale, provides valuable information to scientists frommany different disciplines. Indeed, the observatorys newtechnologies open such a rich new window on naturesmyriad interactions that scientists will be able to addresssome larger biological and ecological issues for the very rsttime leading, no doubt, to many new questions andstudies in the future.

migration. For example, in a recent paper she revealedthat what were previously thought to be two separateschools of tuna, one in the Mediterranean and the otheron the east coast of North America, are in fact one singleschool that travels all the way across the ocean to reachseparate spawning and foraging areas. Her discovery hashad a signi cant impact on the worlds understandingand management of this valuable and increasingly scarceresource.

Dr. Block is also using our archival tags to unlock thesecrets of the open ocean environment itself. As her work with the Census of Marine Life and Tagging of Paci cPelagic (TOPP) research projects demonstrates, she isleading the way in providing some of the best oceanobservation data available in the world today, thanks in nosmall part to our LTD 2310 and her contributions as a betatester.

excellent example of howtnerships result in bettertelemetry devices can bend in our collaboration withBarbara A. Block

a designer of tools forentists, Lotek is a strongiever in supporting scienti cearch.

PARTNERSHIP PRO


8/15

We design high quality, innovative products.

The tools that researchers use to gain insight into theiranimals movements and behaviour must be able to deliverample and accurate data in a reliable and cost-effectivemanner. We take the utmost care to make top qualitymonitoring equipment, because we understand that ourcustomers are relying on our systems to make informed andoften far-reaching decisions about the environment. Theyuse Lotek systems to prove or disprove important scienti chypotheses, to implement or revise important wildlifemanagement strategies, or to respond to strict legislative

requirements, and they base their conclusions directly uponthe results that our systems provide. Its a responsibility that

we dont ever take lightl y.

We know the value of abundant and acc urate trackingdata, and we understand the often costly consequences ofusing unreliable monitoring devices. For hydroelectric damoperators, for example, its essential that their annual shsurvival counts are accurate, because failed transmitters canerroneously lower sh passage survival numbers enoughto cost millions of dollars in unnecessary dam operationmodi cations. Similarly, failure to accurately chart the

migrations of a herd of caribou through a particularlysensitive terrestrial habitat could result in wildlifemanagement decisions that will have disastrous consequencesfor all involved for the animals, for the habitat in question,and for the human activities planned for that area.

Exacting standards, stringent speci cationsElectronic devices are usually considered to be fairly delicateinstruments that need to be kept dry and handled with care.By contrast, the electronic systems that Lotek manufactures

are used by wild animals in extremely harsh environments.Our unique challenge is to make electronics that aresimultaneously sensitive and tough: capable of gatheringprecise data, and yet able to perform impeccably while being

jostled, bumped, scra ped, immersed in wate r, and exposed toextremes of temperature and/or pressure.

To add to the challenge, unlike other new electronic products,once a Lotek product is quali ed for shipment and released,there are limited opportunities for retrieval or repairs. Allmeasures undertaken to ensure its proper functioning have tobe completed before deployment in the eld.

We begin meeting these c hallenges as earl y as theusing software simulations and computational modetect stress and fatigue factors over the life of a p

We continue testing thr oughout the manufacturi ngholding each product to stringent engineering speand relevant industry standards. We monitor for each stage of assembly, calibrate using equipmenexceeds the accuracy of the devices being manufaperform burn-ins and temperature cycling to expoelectronic parts, stabilize frequency-sensitive com

ensure the resilience of our products in the eld. complicated the instrument being manufactured, elaborately we test it.

Worth the effortDoes all of this care and attention raise the cost ofproducts? In some cases, yes, certainly. Would wcutting corners to lower those costs? Certainly ndo we take this approach? To paraphrase the welltelevision ad, Because your datas worth it.

How do you judge the qualityof a product? If youre awildlife researcher or manager,you know that when it comesto animal monitoring systems,its all about the data.


9/15

Radio AcousticHow it works: To track an animal with radio, you need to equip it witha device, called a transmitter, thatcan send you a signal. In addition,you yourself need to be equipped with a device, calle d a receiver, that

can detect that signal. Both devices have antennas attachedto them to aid them in their tasks. Radio is an excellenttype of signal to use when tracking animals, in part becauseradio waves can transmit information rapidly and for longdistances in air. Radio signals can also be made to transmiteffectively in fresh water, but not through salt water.

To track more than one creature at the same time, you needa way to give each one a unique signal that you can identify.In conventional biotelemetry, radio signals are made uniqueby varying either their frequency or their beeping rates.Both strategies have their limitations. One of Loteks greatinnovations in biotelemetry has been the introduction ofthe digitally encoded radio tag, which transmits a uniquenumerical code that differentiates it from all other tags,even those transmitting on the exact same frequency. Thisallows a researcher to track hundreds of subjects on any onefrequency, which has greatly improved scientists abilities toincrease the sample sizes of their studies.

Another signi cant advance has been our miniatur izationof radio tags. We now offer digitally encoded radio tagsthat are tiny and light enough to be used on sh as small as10 centimeters (3.9 inches) long. Quite an improvementover the early days of biotelemetry, when the transmittersthemselves were almost that long!

When its used: Radio biotelemetry can be used in water,on land or in the sky. A huge range of animals can be

tracked with this technology: Lotek has radio tags andcollars that can be placed on sh, birds, mammals andamphibians of almost any size, from tiny salmon smolts tofull-grown elephants.

Product examples:Transmitters (Fish): NanoTag, MCFT, MBFT, EMG, &SR sensorsTransmitters (Wildlife): LMRT, SMRCReceivers: SRX 600, SRX 400, STR 1000, DRX 600

How it works: Seawatermore than 70% of the Easurface, and is home to mcreatures. But salt waterunique challenges to thoto track marine wildlife.

waves are highly absor bed by salt water, makinpoor choice for sending messages through the o

Sound waves, on the other hand, are not similarby seawater. Whats more, sound can travel mo

times faster in water than in air, allowing near listening over long distances with the right tooreasons, acoustic signals are the preferred comtool for researchers who wish to track sh and marine habitats in real time.

As with radio, a coustic telemetr y requires transto send signals and receivers to hear them. In bthose two, one additional piece of equipment isacoustic telemetry. A hydrophone is a type of umicrophone that receives acoustic signals, whiceither stored or converted into radio signals fortransmission through the air to the receiver on

Lotek has expanded the boundaries of acousticas well. Our powerful MAP System employs Ccoding (similar to that found in cell phones) to simultaneous detection of countless unique indon a single acoustic frequency. Equally innovaMAP Systems ability to discern its tags reliablacoustically noisy ocean environment.

When its used: Acoustic biotelemetry is genemonitor those creatures living or moving in deesalt water habitats. Lotek offers acoustic syste wide variety of mari ne inhabitant s, such as salmplaice, cod, crabs, sea turtles, and many others

Product examples:Transmitters: MAP, CAFT, MA sensorsHydrophones: WHS, LHPReceivers: MAP 600, SRX 600, SRX 400

Theres more than oneway to track a cat ...

... or a tuna... or an elephant... or an albatross... or a polar bear

... or a salmon smolt... or a sea turtle

... or a fox... or a sturgeon

... or an eland... or a pine marten... or a shearwater

... or an elk ... or a penguin

... or a sablefish

... or a plaice

HNOLOGY PROFILES


10/15

Receiver systems

Dataloggers

Radio transmitters

Acoustic transmitters

Combined acoustic/radiotransmitters

Physiological transmitters

Temperature transmitters

Pressure/depth transmitters

Motion transmitters

Archival tags

Hydrophones

Wireless hydr

GPS systems

Argos system

Data analysis

Accessories

Field support

Training

Consulting se

ArchivalHow it works: Smaller creatureslike sh can also be equipped

with devices that record and storetracking information for retrieval ata later date. Known as archival ordata storage tags, these instruments

are placed in or on sh and act like tiny computers,constantly sensing and recording the environmentalconditions that they travel through. Incredibly, the tagscan take new readings as frequently as every 4 seconds if

desired. Despite their small size, Lotek archival tags havebatteries and memories with enough capacity to collectdata for several years. They are also constructed to ensurereliable operation at depths of up to 2000 meters andtemperatures as low as -5 C.

Archival tags mea sure water tempera ture, water pressureand light levels. From these, researchers can reconstructan impressively detailed daily history of a shs travels.The pressure reading reveals its precise water depth, andthe light measurements contain enough information toallow calculation of the shs latitude and longitude, usingan elegant process known as light-based geolocation.The unsurpassed light sensitivity of Lotek archival tagsensures that users can gather the most accurate geolocationestimates possible.

As with some types of G PS work, archival tag researchrelies on equipment retrieval for its success. Some tagshave labels that offer rewards to whoever catches the sh,and its not unusual for these rewards to be claimed fromsurprisingly faraway locations. Lotek has also introduceda second retrieval option: archival tags with pop offmechanisms. Like remote-release GPS collars, these tags

can be programmed to detach from their subjects at speci ctimes. Once detached, they oat to the surface of the waterand emit signals to facilitate recovery.

When its used: Archival tags offer an excellent alternativefor monitoring aquatic, avian and terrestrial species whenradio or acoustic telemetry is not possible or practical.Lotek tags have been used on such diverse species as tuna,salmon, cod, plaice, sharks, sable sh, lake trout, turtles,penguins, albatross and platypuses.

Product examples:LTD 1100, LTD 1110, LTD 2350, LTD 2410

Radio for fresh water, andacoustic for salt or deep water.Seems straightforward enough.But some sh move back and forthbetween fresh and salt water, or

tween shallow and deep water. How do you track them?the past, researchers only choice was to equip such shth two different ta gs, one acoustic a nd one radio. Butcause each tag adds a certain amount of weight andcupies a certain amount of space, double-tagging is not

viable option for many smaller species.ne of the advantages of being a company with expertisemultiple tracking technologies is that we can combine

em whenever unique monitoring challenges call forventive solutions. To address the needs of researchersdying anadromous, catadromous and deep-diving sh

ecies, we designed a system that transmits both acousticd radio signals from a single tag to a single receiver. Our

ART (Combined Acoustic Radio Transmitter) tag sendsth types of signal at regular intervals, which ensures thatearchers wont lose track as their subjects move from one

pe of aquatic environment to another.

ART tags employ the same digital coding scheme that rst introduced i n our radio tags, making it possible tock hundreds of sh on any given frequency. In addition,th of CARTs encoded signals can be detected by theme receiver.

oduct examples:ansmitters : CART, CH sensorsydrophones: WHS, LHPceivers: SRX 600, SRX 400, MAP 600

CombinedAcoustic & Radio Satellite

How it works: In radio andacoustic systems, signals travel froma transmitter to a nearby receiver.By contrast, animals equipped withGPS and Argos collars do most oftheir communicating with satellites

in outer space. The collars take advantage of servicesafforded by two multiple-satellite systems, the GlobalPositioning System (GPS) and the Advanced Researchand Global Observation Satellite (Argos). Each system

operates in a unique way: GPS satellites transmit positionaldata to receivers on the ground, while Argos satellitesreceive positional and other data from transmitters on theground, and relay that information back to ground stationssituated elsewhere. We manufacture collars that can utilizeeither system to full advantage.

For example, our GPS collars can take positional snapshotsat numerous pre-de ned intervals all day long. The rst oftheir kind, these collars also boast impressive data storagecapabilities, keeping a record of the animals migratoryhistory until the collar and/or its information is retrieved.Never before have biologists been able to obtain such a richand accurate mapping of an animals movements, to withinan error of less than ve meters.

Another exciting innovation has been the addition ofremote-release capabilities to our collars. Biologi sts cannow activate a mechanism that automatically detaches thedata-rich collar from the animal. Thi s eliminates the needto recapture the creature at the end of the study, reducingboth the expense to the researcher and potential traumato the animal. Once detached, the collar changes its radiobeacon signal to help the researcher nd it.

When its used: GPS and Argos systems are used to trackanimals such as coyotes, wolves, caribou, sheep, cattle,mountain lions, bears, moose, deer and cougars, as well assea turtles, marine mammals and birds. Recently, Lotek hasalso added GPS locator capabilities to other products, suchas our SRX 600 receivers.

Product examples:GPS: GPS 3300, GPS 4400, WildCell Argos: ArgosTrack, GPS Argos

Lotek products and servi

TECHNOLOGY PRO


11/15

We provide solutions.

Despite the fact that its become something of a marketingclich for companies to refer to their offerings as solutionsrather than products, at Lotek we truly do see ourselvesas solution providers. In fact, we view it as a key de ningfactor that makes us who we are as a company. O ur entirebusiness is based upon providing real solutions, on manyimportant levels: solutions for our clients, for science, for

sh and wildlife, and for the environment. Its what ledus into business in the rst place, and its what continuesto drive us to strive for excellence in all of our endeavourstoday, more than 20 years on.

Getting involved as a partner We know how important and urgent i t is to nd solution sto environmental problems because were a company thatthe problem solvers of the world come to for help. So wedont just supply them with a piece of equipment and goaway. Wher ever possible, we become familiar with theirresearch challenges as a whole, and get involved as a partner

to help them nd the right solutions. For some, the problemis guring out the best way to track an animal. For others,the problem is how best to deploy the equipment in a trickyenvironment to capture the desired data. An d for others, theproblem is how to process and interpret the millions of datapoints that our systems provide. In all cases, at all steps of theresearch process, were there to help them nd the answers totheir questions.

Providing innovative solutionsCase in point: an interesting problem that more and more wildlife researcher s are encounteri ng, now that such anabundance of tracking data is available to them, is a lackof analytical tools to process it all. OurGPS 3300L collar, for example, is capable of recording the precise whereabouts of an a nimal 96 times a day for up to 221 days thats 21,216 pieces of information for one animal alone.Similarly, we supply sh and bird researchers with archivaltags that can each record an astounding 1.33 million data

ound the world, the interactionween humans and nature is fraughth problems some very serious,

me very urgent. Dwindling orpleted sh stocks, polluted rivers

d oceans, endangered animal species,appearing natural resources,ensive habitat losses the list is asg as it is distressing.

points. Researchers now need analytical tools them handle, process, and interpret all the data collecting. In response to that need, weve devnew software tools, such asBioMap, that keep ainformation in a database and help the researchprocess it in a way that transforms the raw dataknowledge.

The pursuit of scienti c knowledge involves aninteresting cyclical process: questions lead to abut answers always yield new and deeper quessooner do we discover a new way to track an adeploy a system or analyze a data set, than thosgive rise to whole new sets of questions, challeproblems. After more than two decades as a sprovider, weve learned that at each step of the you can only hope to solve the new problems thby building upon your successes with the previ

ere a company that the problem solvers of the worldme to for help. So we dont just supply them with aece of equipment and go away we get involved.

From left to right: installation discussions on the Columbia River basin, USA; sturgeon tracking on the Hudson River, USA; equipment training for seal/salmstudies in Hokkaido, Japan; animal capture for GPS collar attachment in northern Qubec, Canada.


12/15

Innovative Solutions: A List of Lotek Firsts

1988 Lotek develops the rst electromyogram radiocapable of transmitting data on a shs metabolenergy expenditure.

1989 Lotek introduces the SRX 400, the telemetry infully integrated tracking/data-logging smart r

1991 Lotek introduces the rst software-con gurablspeci c system for automatic sh passage analy

1991 Lotek develops sophisticated digital coding tecresearchers the ability to track multiple animalsfrequency for the rst time.

1991,1997

Lotek develops a series of peripheral devices pmultiple antenna switching (1991) and ultrasonconversion (1997).

1991-1996

Lotek develops software that gives automatic sability to provide:* user con gurable data collection and validatio(1991)* adaptive frequency scanning (1991)

* summary record generation and real time stat(1993)* diagnostic and fault recovery strategies (1993* remote system monitoring with download/upvia telephone (1996)

1991 Lotek creates the wildlife equipment industryscrystal controlled, custom hybrid circuits for corate generation.

1992 Lotek designs the DSP 500 digital receiver thanear-simultaneous, multi-frequency and multi-adiscrimination of up to 4250 transmitters.

1995 Lotek develops the worlds rst automatic GPStracking system. It includes a Global Positioni(GPS) receiver, a data storage unit and radio cocommunication links, and permits remotely conaccuracy positioning of animals over a large stu

1997 Lotek develops a CDMA acoustic positioning scan receive and decode the greatest number of icoded acoustic tags working simultaneously in reception range.

2000 Lotek develops the rst fully programmable diradio tag with mass of less than 1 gram.

2004 Lotek develops the rst fully programmable diradio tag with mass of less than 500 milligrams

2005 Lotek develops the rst fully programmable diradio tag with mass of less than 400 milligrams

Application Support & Consulting ServicesCustomer service is such an important part of our companythat we maintain an application support division dedicatedto providing customized, one-on-one assistance to ourclients in the eld.

Staffed by experts in both biology and telemetry, membersof this division travel the globe supporting our customersin their use of Lotek monitoring systems. They know thetheory, and more importantly, they know how to apply it toreal-world tracking situations, both terrestrial and aquatic.

The application support group also provides training andseminars on biotelemetry techniques to sh and wildliferesearchers and managers in many countries, both in personand via Internet-based sessions, videos and user manuals.

Lotek also offers complete consulting services to clientsseeking turnkey solutions for their biological and ecologicalstudies. With their extensive scienti c experience, ourconsultants are able to apply their management expertiseto every stage of a research study, from initial projectdesign all the way through to data acquisition, analysis andpublication.


13/15

We build on our successes.

ve taken care to give our company a struct ure thats asessful and reliable as our monitoring systems, so that

customers have the con dence that they can alwayse back, always move forward with Lotek systems as weinue to develop them over the years.

vesting in researchof the main ways that we ensure Loteks strength and

ility is by building on our successes. Year after year, wevest a greater percentage of our revenues into furtherarch and development than any other biotelemetrypany in the world. The more we grow, the more wereto reinvest in R&D, and the more our customers will

e t from our next generation of telemetry tools. Simplybeing a pro table company allows us to keep pushing

boundaries of whats possible in our eld.

ivating a great teamther way that we build on our successes is by attract ingcultivating a top notch team. Were proud to sayour staff is comprised of some of the most quali ed,

cated, and talented individuals in their respective eldsn engineering, biology, production, quality assurance,an resources, purchasing, inventory, sales & marketing,rmation systems, nance & administrati on. Across the

d, they bring an unprecedented level of enthusiasminterest to their work at Lotek, the kind that showsrly that they truly believe in the quality of our systemsthe value of our contribution to the environment.

act, many of our employees also choose to becomeeholders of the company. In turn, we reward our staff scation with a range of staff-friendly human resourcecies and practices, including training and educationport, extime and telecommuting options, a generouse ts plan, and annual pro t-sharing bonuses. We alsoourage staff involvement at all levels of the company,bene t constantly from their contributions and ideas.

any of the worlds top scientistsd managers rely upon Lotektems and innovations year after

ar. Knowing that has motivatedto excel not only in productvelopment, but also in business.

Lotek reinvests a greaterpercentage of its revenuesinto further research anddevelopment than any otherbiotelemetry company.


14/15

Building on our successesLotek Wireless Inc. has been in business since 198Since then, we have grown the company, one succeanother, to the point where we now have two largein Canada, additional representation in the United and Japan, and a total staff of more than 125 full-tiemployees.

We have designed and manufactured ma ny new wato track animals, often altering the very economicsbiotelemetry in the process by simultaneously raisibar on data quality and lowering the barriers to en

sh and wildlife researchers around the world.

We have shipped tens of thousands of tra nsmitters,and collars to date, often doubling our numbers froyear to the next.

We are the only biotelemetr y company that design with all four of the ma in technologies r adio, acosatellite and archival.

We sell our systems to top researc hers in over 35 c worldwide, and our systems are in use on ever y coand in every ocean on Earth.

Numerous scienti c papers have been published udata from Lotek systems, and numerous species ofbirds and animals have bene ted from our efforts apartnerships with scientists and wildlife managers

We are proud to be providinginnovative solutions to our customersand partners, who are accomplishingso much towards a sustainable futureLike us, they believe passionately inwhat they do, and we look forward toworking with them for many years tocome.

otek Awards

003 2003 Canada Export Award for Outstanding ExportPerformance awarded by the Department of Foreign

Affairs and International Trade003 Seasonal Team Players of the Year awarded by the Lake

Simcoe Region Conservation Authority 003 Canadian Innovation Leader awarded by the National

Research Council

003 Business Excellence, Developing International Tradeawarded by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

002 2002 Canada Export Award for Innovation andTechnology awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairsand International Trade

002 Company of the Year for Newfoundland and Labrador- Newfoundland and Labrador Association of TechnologyIndustries (NATI)

001 Ontario Global Traders - Award of Merit for Innovation001 Ontario Global Traders Regional Award for Market

Expansion001 Newfoundland and Labrador Marconi Communications

Export Award

999 Lotek recognized by the Industrial Accident Prevention Association for 14 years of accident-free business

998 Lotek featured in the Best Practices video of the Workers Safety Insurance Board

998 Hall of Distinction Award for export development,Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

994 Top 100 Entrepreneurs Award (to Lotek President JimLotimer), Ontario Business Journal

994 Award of Excellence, Small Business category, fromCanada Awards for Business Excellence

993 Certi cate of Merit Award, Small Business category, fromCanada Awards for Business Excellence

992 Commitment to Quality Award from the OntarioChamber of Commerce and the Ontario Ministry ofIndustry, Trade and Technology

Our plants in Newmarket, Ontario (L) and St. Johns, Newfoundland


15/15

This booklet is printed on 100% post-consumer waste and process chlorine free paper, using low volatile organic compound vegetable oil inks.

Lotek Wireless Inc.115 Pony Drive, Newmarket, ON, Canada L3Y 7B5114 Cabot Street, St. Johns, NL, Canada A1C 1Z8Tel: 905-836-6680 Fax: 905-836-6455Email: biotelemetry@lotek com

Lotek network

Documents

Transcript of Lotek network