Robots help environmental scientists

The call to save our planet from deteriorating climate situations has gotten louder over the years. Unfortunately, 2021 has squashed the world with the second wave of the pandemic and introduced human society to the adverse effect of environmental collapse. Yes, everything starting from heavy rains in China and Europe to the back-to-back hit of earthquake and cyclone in Haiti is blamed on climate change. Not to forget the wildfires that ravaged the US recently. However, researchers are seeking technological assistance to combat the growing climate challenges. Today, robots help environmental scientists to moderate the conditions including in the marine areas. 

Over 55% of the human population lives in cities surrounded by concrete, glass, steel, and asphalt. Most of us forgot about the diversity of other types of environments on Earth. For many years, the world has accepted the damages that human activity has caused. But not anymore! The environment is fighting back against the odds of human society now. Therefore, it is time for humans to embrace a disruptive solution that could protect us from the ruins. As a result, scientists across many domains are working on new technologies to be deployed alongside conservation efforts to preserve and prevent the environment. They are taking inspiration from nature to create substantial solutions to human-created problems. In the effort, robots help environmental scientists get the result they expect. One of the major areas that were highly affected by humans is marine. Plastic, chemical, and substance wastes are dumped in the ocean, limping the life of marine beings. A growing suite of robots in marine monitoring are emerging to better manage the changes done by humans around the sea area. Already, a disruptive idea of ‘Row-bot’ is digesting pollution in the water and turning it into energy. In a further effort to keep an eye on the ocean and its lives, exploratory robots help environmental scientists in maritime monitoring. 

A Robot to Survey Maritime 

A PhD student in the MIT-WHOI, Victoria Preston, has joined the effort to combat environmental collapse using robots in maritime monitoring. She, along with her team, has developed a robot that independently navigates the sites, collects samples, takes measurements, etc to keep a tab on the ocean. Using its chemical sensors, the robot is even capable of detecting the composition of the flowing water. 

Since her early education days, Victoria has been working on robots that could help society. She often saw robots as the tool for scientists that could aid them to moderate the environmental state. Victoria developed algorithms that could allow robots to move on their own. As a result, they can eventually navigate the sea areas and collect samples in regions where scientists are interested. The algorithm will be updated every now and then to make the robot explore new locations and collect more samples. They even get random samples to be analyzed in the lab later. 

The next step for Victoria is to go underwater, but through her robots. Her research team will be releasing remotely operated and autonomous underwater robots near the bottom of the basin to investigate how hydrothermal plumes move in the water column.