Field Robots

Developing Marine Robotics for the Western Indian Ocean - Needs, designs and applications

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is one of the fastest warming parts of the global ocean. There is no doubt that this is due to Climate Change. Model projections indicate Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in the tropical WIO will rise some 5°C by 2100 with drastic destructive changes in the marine ecosystems and fisheries, impacting food security for the 60 M people who are dependent on this ocean. Inland droughts will accentuate this problem. By 2035 emergency food relief will be need in Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, and Somalia (already happening). Emergency mitigation

Underwater Robot for Shallow Water Pipeline Inspection & Monitoring

Hassane Trigui, Research & Development Center, Aramco

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract Remotely operated Vehicles (ROVs) are widely used in deep water to perform various types of activities in the Oil and Gas sector and beyond. However, for extreme shallow waters, that is less than 10 meters in depth, the ROV market is severely underserved. In addition, ROV operations in shallow waters are more challenging than deeper waters due to the difficulty in accessing shallow sites with large vessels that can support divers and ROVs in their operations. Robotics Engineers from Aramco have developed a unique underwater robot specifically designed to operate in shallow waters area

At the Limits of the Red Sea - challenges of deep marine sciences

Prof. Froukje M. van der Zwan, Physical Science and Engineering, Earth Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract The Red Sea is a unique marine environment where we can study the formation of a new ocean basin, which is host to rare ecosystems due to its young and enclosed character and special environmental conditions. The deep Red Sea Rift is particularly interesting as the new oceanic crust is formed by volcanic activity along the entire basin, which, together with hydrothermal activity and the occurrence of brine pools, provides unique habitats. The Red Sea Rift is >1,000 m deep, far past the limits of scuba diving, and reaches almost 3,000 m in some areas. Salinity is >40 PSU, and the

Exploring the Blue Frontier with Cooperative Marine Robots

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract The last decade has witnessed tremendous progress in the development of marine technologies that are steadily affording scientists advanced equipment and methods for ocean exploration and exploitation. Recent advances in marine robotics, sensors, computers, communications, and information systems are being applied to the development of sophisticated technologies that will lead to safer, faster, and far more efficient ways of exploring the ocean frontier, especially in hazardous conditions. As part of this trend, there has been a surge of interest worldwide in the development of

Deep benthic environments: an endless (but stimulating) challenge for marine robotics

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract In the past 50 years, marine robotics had a huge impact on marine sciences, providing countless support tools for a better understanding of the benthic environments. The endless need for a higher level of resolution in our maps, the application of specific protocols for monitoring programs, measuring the different components of the water column, and collecting the smallest or most delicate biological samples have pushed the technology always over its limits. Finally, the introduction of AI in acoustic and underwater video technologies is bringing now the analyses to a higher level of

Semi-autonomous systems enable advances in Earth Observation

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract The description and characterization of the Earth system is a field that routinely leverages technological advances to improve our understanding of diverse ecosystems. One of the most promising areas of application is the use of autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms in precision agriculture. Such systems are capable of performing data collection, analysis, and decision-making tasks with minimal human intervention. The Hydrology, Agriculture, and Land Observation (HALO) laboratory at KAUST is at the forefront of this technology, employing a combination of satellites, UAVs and most

Smart Agricultural Robotics for Monitoring Coral Reefs and Plants: A vertical farming perspective

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B18 Fellowship Hall

Featured Sessions
Abstract Aquaponics is a vertical farming technique and an integrated production of fish and hydroponic crops with recirculation of the aquaculture effluent used by the plant as fertilizer. This technique offers high water efficiency, a faster growth rate, and high crop yields. Despite all the advantages offered by this technology, its implementation on a commercial scale is hindered by many technical and economic factors, which can be addressed by integrating smart technologies, automation, and control. Together with the landmark technologies of Industry 4.0, such as robotics, artificial