Project summary

The project aims to monitor the turtle nesting sites and guard the nests using AI, Computer Vision and Rover Robots from predator dogs, cats and foxes. The project also proposes using nets for the protection of nests and then releasing the hatchlings into the sea when it's their release time.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

The project's goal is to protect hatchlings and nests from attacks by predators so that they can be released to the sea safely. We plan to do it by designing a heterogeneous system that includes a 360-degree camera for monitoring of the nests 24/7 monitoring, using different types of robots and rovers. The monitoring station will be getting a live stream over the internet and the GPU-based processsing will help to take operational decisions including applying nets, spraying water on the preditors or playing souds to scare them away. In this way we will be able to save the turtle hatchlings.

How will this funding be used?

We have government-designated turtle nesting sites in North Cyprus. We will purchase and install the cameras, and purchase and use robots and rovers to chase and scare the predators away once detected. We will also install solar/battery-powered charging and power stations to meet the power and energy requirements. We will also publish a monthly report of progress and will try to advertise using social media for the public awareness cause. Will also organise events for awareness purposes.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

I am an academic living in Northern Cyprus for the past 4 years. I am going to kick-start it with my student volunteers and then will establish a team once funded. We have been doing projects in the same line and need funding to develop and deploy them in the hatchling nests.

Reference (Muhammad Toaha Raza Khan)

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

The project is timely and has great potential to perform very well and to serve the cause as well. The government and the community are also aware of and support such initiatives. It is very practical, and we have done similar prototyping in past.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

We have very recently secured a number of international research funding awards through competitive processes, among them grants from the International Science Partnerships Fund (amounting to £80,000), the National Research Foundation of Korea (£450,000), the Québec Merit Scholarship programme (£35,000), and the AdımODTÜ research programmes.