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Gliding through the ocean like a metallic eel, a sinuous robot quietly looks for pollution. Another analyzes a shipwreck and relays photos back to its operators. Underwater robots, also called unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), have become important tools in many fields. These robots operate in ocean and lake environments and have a wide range of uses, including mapping, monitoring, maintenance and recovery operations.
There are two categories of UUVs: autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), which operate independently using AI software, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which a person controls from a distance. AUVs generally have a torpedo-shaped or eel-like design, allowing them to glide through the water. ROVs often look like a cube outfitted with propellors, cameras and a manipulator arm. All of them are types of underwater robots.
Engineers can program AUVs to perform specific tasks &#; such as following a pre-determined survey path &#; or equip the robots with AI algorithms that allow them to make decisions and adapt to changing conditions. Their artificial intelligence means they can operate independently and without supervision, which is especially helpful in remote environments.
ROVs shine in situations that require close observation, such as search and recovery operations. Engineers can monitor the vehicles&#; progress and guide them as needed, allowing for greater flexibility and control.
Underwater vehicles are usually much smaller than submarines. Their size means they can go where no one has gone before, sinking to the darkest depths of the ocean or lakebeds to do dangerous jobs.
Bizarrely, scientists know more about the surface of the moon and Mars than they do about the seafloor. As of , only around 20% of the ocean had been mapped, in large part due to its inaccessibility, opacity and sheer size. That&#;s changing thanks to underwater robots.
The Seabed project aims to map the entire ocean floor by the end of the decade. With the help of UUVs, scientists are making fast work of charting the depths, using sonar-equipped underwater robots to learn the topography of the seabed.
UUVs can dive to depths humans cannot endure. This quality makes them uniquely suited to trawl the deepest parts of the ocean looking for marine life, both known and undiscovered. Biologists and oceanographers use underwater robots to study animals and their habitats, as well as to collect data on temperature, ocean currents and salinity.
The UUVs may have cameras, sonar and other sensors to capture crisp images and videos of marine life and the ocean floor. This data is useful for studying animal behavior as well as monitoring the health of coral reefs and other ocean habitats. Additionally, the robots can collect water and sediment samples for further analysis.
Another use for underwater robots is to uncover lost vehicles. Robots can explore shipwrecks, downed planes and other debris, allowing researchers to study the sites without disturbing them. They can also survey and map the area, providing valuable information for recovery missions or future research projects. Additionally, the robots may have manipulator arms and other specialized equipment to carefully excavate and recover artifacts, allowing researchers to study them on land.
In , UUVs discovered the lost wreck of two American B-52 bomber planes that collided in , and divers were able to recover the remains of three Air Force crew. Underwater robots are also useful for locating the remains of divers, swimmers and anglers who drown. Search and rescue teams can then recover the missing people and give closure to their families.
One of the primary uses for underwater robots is in the oil and gas industry. They can inspect and maintain offshore pipelines and rigs, allowing for safer and more efficient operation of these facilities.
UUVs often have cameras and other sensors to capture images and videos of the structures, which engineers can analyze for signs of wear and tear, corrosion or other structural issues. This process can prevent major accidents or equipment failures. Additionally, underwater robots can perform routine maintenance tasks, such as painting or cleaning, which can be difficult or even dangerous for human workers.
Trash is a threat to all marine life. Animals may eat it when mistaking it for food, and it tends to break down into smaller pieces that pollute even some of the smallest organisms in the ocean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has removed over 22,500 metric tons of garbage from the ocean since , but there&#;s still a long way to go.
AUVs equipped with image recognition AI software can scan the ocean floor for plastic, metal and rubber trash. Once the robot relays the information, scientists can make note of where the trash is located and organize cleanup efforts to focus on that area.
Robots equipped with sensors can monitor water quality in real time, sending the data back to researchers. They can measure temperature, conductivity and toxicity in waterways, and collect samples that researchers can analyze in a lab.
The robots can take samples of microorganisms such as bacteria and plankton. Assessing the density and biodiversity of life in a water sample can provide clues about how habitable the water is.
Bizarrely, underwater robots sometimes have chambers containing microbes that serve as bioreporters. This means the microbes are genetically engineered to detect pollution, and their behavior changes in measurable ways when exposed to toxins. For example, some of them will glow when exposed to mercury. By comparing how the microorganisms react to a water sample versus a clean container of water, scientists can determine if the water sample is polluted.
As technology continues to improve, more advanced and powerful underwater robots are just on the horizon. They will be able to stay underwater for longer periods of time and perform more complex tasks. Overall, unmanned underwater vehicles are an essential tool for understanding and exploring aquatic environments, and they will continue to play a vital role in a wide range of industries.
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One robot, dubbed Scarlet Knight, is an eight-foot glider that traveled autonomously from New Jersey to Spain. The bot, built by students at Rutgers University, is designed to provide better data on how climate change is affecting the ocean.
This glider has no engine to move it forward. It relies on the ocean's currents, making a series of 10,000 dives and ascents to travel 4,600 miles. The team was able to collect data on ocean circulation, heat content and how heat moves across the Atlantic.
Using Scarlet Knight to collect scientific data is cheaper and more practical than sending people. This technology could evolve into a new way for researchers to attain data. Others say a fleet of gliders equipped with oil sensors could help detect spills.
At the University of Hawaii, oceanographers drop torpedo-shaped bots into eddies, spinning columns of water, hoping to collect microbial life. The current of an eddy brings deep sediment and nutrients up to the surface. Some bots gather samples of this sediment. Others swim around testing water salinity and temperatures.
The goal is to learn more about life within these vertical layers of water and how they impact the ocean. Microbes control elemental cycles and form the basis of the food chain. They can absorb carbon dioxide and draw it deep into the sea. They also produce other greenhouse gases.
Microbial life is challenging to study and, because of this, it's not well understood. Underwater robots can make the process easier and more affordable. Experts say these bots have exciting potential because they can withstand harsh environments, including high pressure.
Underwater remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, controlled by operators ashore or in the water, can observe the murky depths of the sea. These devices range in size. The smallest is the size of a basketball &#; the biggest can match an SUV.
There are four classes of ROVs.
The U.S. Navy first tested underwater ROVs in the s. In , they successfully recovered a missing atomic bomb off the coast of Spain. Today, ROVs play a crucial role in several industries, including search and rescue, oil, gas, shipping and more.
The bottom of the ocean is home to naturally occurring metallic nodules that can yield cobalt, manganese, nickel and rare earth minerals. Due to the rise in electric vehicles and wind turbines, the demand for these metals is high. Many are using robots to target prime mining operations.
One Canadian team recently completed an expedition to a spot in the Pacific between Hawaii and Mexico. This 1.7-million-square-mile patch is where most of these metallic nodules exist. The team dropped box-shaped bots equipped with coring devices into the ocean.
The robots have a dual purpose. As they collect nodules, they also bring up sediment and mud from the seafloor. Researchers use this data to ensure their mining operations aren't harming the habitat. The same Canadian team says it's developing a harvester bot, designed to run on treads and vacuum the seabed.
At the University of Delaware, the ocean robotics laboratory is home to 10 underwater robots. Perhaps the most noteworthy is Remus 600, approximately nine feet long and school-bus yellow. The vessel can travel as deep as 600 meters and features a transducer to detect marine life.
On the latest mission, Remus 600 studied the distribution of whale food sources. Because the mammals dive to such great depths &#; more than half a mile &#; they are hard for humans to observe. Robots can withstand the environment at these depths. For the first time, scientists can discover what foods whales are eating when deep below the surface.
The Remus 600 has practicality beyond whales. Using the transducer, the bot picks up unique frequencies from each organism. Researchers use these frequencies to identify what's near, whether it's a dolphin, fish or zooplankton.
Underwater robotics is making exploration cheaper and more accessible. Scientists can reach spots of the ocean that were previously untouchable. With their ability to withstand harsh environments, these bots can collect samples, observe marine life and test water temperatures. There's no doubt the future of ocean exploration starts with underwater robotics.
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