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Deep Sea Robots Will Monitor the Oceans for Pollution

posted by CoolHand on Monday July 20 2015, @09:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the dumpster-diving-in-the-deep dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

A new set of gliders is being developed by a group of 19 European research organizations that will be able to go deeper than any other underwater robots have gone before, to 5,000 meters below the surface. The gliders will be chock full of onboard sensors that will take continuous samples of the water there, gathering data about the ecosystems down there as well as monitoring the water for pollution.

From the scientist's perspective more, better data is always a good thing. But scientists who need to compete for funding rarely keep that data to themselves and trumpet it in the public arena. The chance these undersea gliders could produce endless "The Oceans Are Dying!" memes is non-zero.

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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by takyon on Monday July 20 2015, @11:01PM

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Monday July 20 2015, @11:01PM (#211642) Journal

    It seems poorly communicated but the main difference may be that these robots are untethered.

    The researchers will be focusing on developing depth-safe sensors, as well as structures within the glider that can withstand the increased pressure and a propulsion system.

    With those things in place, the gliders will be able to take samples for up to three months at a time to get a full picture of the biodiversity and health of the sea bed.

    They seem like they are faster, cover more range, and don't require resurfacing as often.

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  • (Score: 2) by JNCF on Monday July 20 2015, @11:10PM

    by JNCF (4317) on Monday July 20 2015, @11:10PM (#211648) Journal

    Ah, I could see being a pedantic asshole and arguing that a robot with a tether that leaves the water doesn't technically qualify as an "underwater" robot, but rather a semi-aquatic one. You're probably right.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @11:50PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 20 2015, @11:50PM (#211662)

    With so-called scientists fudging shits here and there, don't see why marketeers, advertisers, salesmen, and money shifters should be so vilified.