Hackaday Prize 2022: Otter Force One protects kelp forests by sucking up sea urchins
When thinking of forests threatened by human activity, most people would immediately think of the rainforest. Beneath the surface of the ocean, another type of forest is in danger: the kelp forests off the coast of northern California. Warming sea water has caused an explosion in the population of purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) which are devouring kelp at an alarming rate. It is estimated that 90% of kelp forests have been destroyed by sea urchins along a 350 km coastal strip.
The solution is as simple as getting rid of sea urchins, but manually collecting the millions of spiny creatures isn't realistic. Luckily, [RobotGrrl] designed just the tool for the job: Otter Force One, an autonomous underwater robot that can round up aquatic intruders and bag them for removal. The device is still under development, but the progress made so far is promising. The basic idea is to identify a sea urchin using artificial vision, then dislodge it with a jet of water, and finally use a suction pump to pull it inside the machine and store it in a bag.
A prototype made from 3D printed components is currently being used to test the idea. Its motors are driven by an ESP32 with a motor controller, with the system powered by a set of heavy-duty lithium batteries. Tests with plastic sea urchin models confirm that the suction mechanism works, although the water jet and machine vision systems have yet to be tested. But even without these in place, the Otter Force One can still be used by human divers to improve their sea urchin collection efficiency.
We will definitely keep an eye on this project and hope to see it evolve into a fully automated sea urchin hunter. Underwater pest control robots aren't completely new: we've seen a laser duster for use in salmon farms before. There are also starfish and robotic octopuses.
When thinking of forests threatened by human activity, most people would immediately think of the rainforest. Beneath the surface of the ocean, another type of forest is in danger: the kelp forests off the coast of northern California. Warming sea water has caused an explosion in the population of purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) which are devouring kelp at an alarming rate. It is estimated that 90% of kelp forests have been destroyed by sea urchins along a 350 km coastal strip.
The solution is as simple as getting rid of sea urchins, but manually collecting the millions of spiny creatures isn't realistic. Luckily, [RobotGrrl] designed just the tool for the job: Otter Force One, an autonomous underwater robot that can round up aquatic intruders and bag them for removal. The device is still under development, but the progress made so far is promising. The basic idea is to identify a sea urchin using artificial vision, then dislodge it with a jet of water, and finally use a suction pump to pull it inside the machine and store it in a bag.
A prototype made from 3D printed components is currently being used to test the idea. Its motors are driven by an ESP32 with a motor controller, with the system powered by a set of heavy-duty lithium batteries. Tests with plastic sea urchin models confirm that the suction mechanism works, although the water jet and machine vision systems have yet to be tested. But even without these in place, the Otter Force One can still be used by human divers to improve their sea urchin collection efficiency.
We will definitely keep an eye on this project and hope to see it evolve into a fully automated sea urchin hunter. Underwater pest control robots aren't completely new: we've seen a laser duster for use in salmon farms before. There are also starfish and robotic octopuses.
What's Your Reaction?
