At CircuitHub we’re proud to have helped so many exciting projects come to fruition. Right now, we’re especially proud of AudioMoth - a full-spectrum open source audio logger that enables scientists, ecologists, and ecological researchers to better study wildlife and animal ecosystems.

AudioMoth, the first product of the Open Acoustics initiative, was designed by two computer science PhD students at the University of Southampton, Andrew Hill and Peter Prince, and Alex Rogers, a computer science professor at the University of Oxford. Together they developed a product that overcomes some of the obstacles of remotely monitoring biodiversity as well as significantly reduces the disruption of habitats previously seen when collecting such data.  

Around the size of a credit card, the AudioMoth is able to capture 384,000 audio samples per second. Each unit can be programmed to record the calls of specific target species while also serving as an alert system for sounds such as gunshots and chainsaws. The device is currently being used all over the world to detect illegal activities and to monitor and protect critically endangered species such as bats in the Madeira Islands of Portugal and forest birds in Mt. Kenya National Park.

In response to the numerous individuals wishing to acquire an AudioMoth, Alasdair Davies from the Arribada Initiative which aims to deliver cost-effective, open conservation technology for all, created a campaign through GroupGets. GroupGets hosts group purchases, facilitates payment processing and handles shipping. By teaming up with them the device was made affordable and widely accessible to conservationists. The cost of one unit purchased through GroupGets is approximately $50. This was key to enabling coverage across large landscapes, where multiple devices are required. Four product runs have been completed (with the fifth manufacturing round currently in progress).

Over 4,000 units of the AudioMoth have been built so far. The demand doesn’t seem to be slowing down and a new version of the board is in the works.

Thanks, Open Acoustics, GroupGets, and Aribada Initiative for letting us be part of your journey!

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