Space was once
referred to as the “final frontier.” But there remains a frontier on Earth: The
oceans. There is still much to explore in the depths of the world’s oceans, and
resources that may change the world. Energy, valuable metals, and food are just
some of the resources that the oceans could help provide as technology grows.
Robots will be
playing a key role in ocean exploration and here are four ways they’ll be doing
it.
1)
Artificial Intelligence
Traveling the
ocean floor can be challenging for robots, which normally progress in a direct,
straight line. Which means any navigation done must be handled by a human.
That’s why artificial intelligence is being studied at Oregon
State University’s College of Engineering as a way to give robots the ability
to adjust their movements to the environment, without a human having to make
the decision. The algorithms being developed should allow the robots to take in
new information, such as ocean currents, and change its direction. Robots being
able to take more efficient paths could save energy, allow for longer
expeditions, and free up humans for other work.
2)
Mining
The deep seas
are a treasure trove of valuable metals such as gold, silver, platinum, copper,
cobalt, manganese, and zinc. And robots could be the key to accessing these
treasures.
Most of the
mining possibilities are centered in the Pacific Ocean, including the Central
and Eastern Manus Basin near Papua New Guinea. While the waters there are deep
– around 3,400 feet – a robot could navigate there.
Canadian company
Nautilus Minerals is currently developing a copper and gold mining program on
the seafloor in Papua New Guinea that is planned to be operational in 2019.
The robots it
plans to deploy include two kinds of cutting robots and a collecting robot to
gather the materials.
3)
National Security
Protecting our
waters and shores may soon fall in some part to robots. The Washington
Post reported that the Navy has opened a competition for unmanned submarines that can navigate
autonomously. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are both vying for the deal.
The subs would
be primarily used for surveillance, as well as for finding and defusing mines
ahead of ships such as aircraft carriers. These robots are part of a military
idea that considers robotics as the workforce, and drones as “force
multipliers.” Robots are seen as augmenting human efforts in combat, but not
taking over.
4)
The Environment
Liquid Robotics,
a subsidiary of Boeing, is collaborating with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to help protect and preserve the Hawaiian and
American Samoa marine sanctuaries and monuments. The Wave Glider, Liquid
Robotics’ autonomous surface ocean robot, will be a key part of monitoring and
surveilling the area, gathering datathat
would be too difficult or expensive with more traditional research.
Sensors mounted
on robots as small as surfboards will be able to monitor coastal waters, giving
information on everything from pH and salinity levels in the water to the
presence of sharks.
Stanford
University has developed Ocean One,
a humanoid robot with stereoscopic vision, eight thrusters, and two arms that
can explore ocean depths for research that would be too dangerous for people to
attempt.
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