Tracking and documenting life on our planet

To collect data for the Internet of Animals, tiny solar-powered tracking devices are being attached to a variety of creatures and natural landscapes, such as glaciers and ocean plastic. Some of these devices even weigh less than a paper clip.

The tags will be used to track thousands of animals to learn how their experiences relate to broader global changes, such as environmental changes, variables that cause species to decline or migrate, and more.

These inexpensive and easy-to-install trackers transmit data to space satellites and paint a detailed picture of what’s happening in different animals and habitats around the world, helping scientists better understand trends and patterns and what’s driving global change.

The benefit of the trackers lies in the real-time updates and schedules they provide. Scientists do not have to rely solely on observations made during field research in the wild, but can consult a database to find out where the animals are or will be.

In fact, this service was already being deployed under the project before it encountered challenges due to geopolitical tensions.

The ICARUS start and stop series

If all goes according to plan, five low-cost satellites carrying ICARUS receivers will be launched into space on a private rocket next year. However, this will not be the first attempt to get the project off the ground (literally).

Back in 2018, the project team launched a receiver destined for the International Space Station on a rocket from Kazakhstan. After its arrival, Russian space experts attached the receiver to its orbital laboratory.

After a successful launch, the Internet of Animals was briefly in operation in spring 2020, but mechanical complications in the Russian space laboratory resulted in signals being down for almost a year.

In 2021, the system was back up and running, tracking 3,500 animals around the globe. Once again, the signal was short-lived. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the West to sever relations with Russia, resulting in all data transmission from ICARUS being cut off.

After numerous disappointments, discussions with private launch vehicle manufacturers and a lot of innovation, the ICARUS team decided to relaunch five different satellites, called CubeSats, to transmit data to and from their trackers. CubeSats are miniature satellites that look like Rubik’s cubes and weigh only a few kilograms.

This will not be a cheap undertaking, as the launch alone costs around 1.57 million US dollars. Fortunately, the funding comes from the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes. The operating costs for the CubeSats are just over 150,000 US dollars per year.

Prof. Martin Wikelski shows how to place a tracker

The involvement of private companies in the launch of the ICARUS receivers was a tactical decision.

Incorporating the International Space Station into operations requires consultations and approvals from national governments, opening the door to potential geopolitical hurdles that could bring operations to a halt – such as when Russia’s war in Ukraine led to the satellites being shut down in 2021.

Not to mention, the new receivers will provide better global coverage. The receivers installed on the ISS were unable to transmit data from tags placed at high altitude on Earth, so I guess it’s a win-win for the ICARUS team.

What is the value of the ICARUS project?

The Internet of Animals is a cool concept, but more importantly, it will improve the accessibility, accuracy and detail of information for scientists studying our planet.

The project aims to “level the playing field for Earth exploration” by providing high-quality information accessible to anyone, including large organizations, smaller teams, or individuals with small budgets or obscure research topics.

The scientists involved in ICARUS believe the data will also help improve climate models. By collecting information from areas that have previously been difficult to monitor, such as the sky, ocean or ice, experts can better understand how human influences affect these areas.

Thanks to the trackers’ precise technology, conservation strategies will also benefit. Satellites record the exact coordinates of the areas where the greatest changes are occurring and provide information on local air pressure, altitude, temperature and humidity.

Finally, the findings of the ICARUS project could inspire people everywhere to act. If we understand the immediate causes of species loss, sudden migration or changing behavior, we will be better informed about the changes we can make to prevent these things from happening.

By 2026, Wikelski and his team hope to tag up to 9,000 more animals across Europe. If the 2025 launch is successful, the Internet of Animals could one day be the most important and comprehensive real-time database for nature that we have.