Inspenet, July 14, 2023.
The growing curiosity to explore the secrets of the seabed has led the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology to develop ” Belle “, a fish-shaped underwater robot that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to obtain clear images of marine life without disturbing the ecosystem .
According to an engineering student at ETH Zurich, the aim of this project is to capture marine ecosystems as they behave naturally, preserving the habitat of marine creatures in the most authentic and up-close way possible.
The robot is equipped with a silicone fin that has two cavities that allow water to be pumped. When these cavities are filled, the fin moves, imitating the movement of the fish.
In addition, it has a camera that can record in deep and difficult-to-reach areas , with a 2-hour battery life . If it runs out, it has a mechanism that activates to allow it to return to the surface.
Likewise, the presence of a built-in GPS facilitates the location of the boat in case the battery runs out and rises to the surface.
Thanks to her implementation of Artificial Intelligence, Belle can navigate autonomously and collect DNA samples for further study . Its length, slightly less than one meter, and its weight of 10 kilos on land, also contribute positively to this process.
This will be Belle’s next mission!
Initially, the robot will descend into the depths of the ocean to collect DNA samples and capture images of the environment and the species present there. After two hours, you will need to return to the surface to change your battery, extract samples, and clean the filters. Once this cleaning process is complete, the robot will be ready to dive again.
The Swiss researchers in charge of the project say that the Belle robot will become a key tool in unlocking the mysteries of the sea and understanding the human impact on the marine ecosystem in the depths of the ocean.
Photo: https://www.reuters.com/
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