Submitted Ideas

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Passive Remote Ocean Biological Explorer (P.R.O.B.E)

Posted by Nekton | Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

A major barrier to understanding the distribution of life in the ocean is simply observing biological communities over large geographic areas. Marine biologists need a cost effective, repeat-use technology to visualise biological communities in the water column and on the seabed, and then return to the surface. We imagine such a device to be free-drifting and programmable to go to any depth scientists require (i.e. down to full ocean depth). The vehicle would be neutrally buoyant at the set depth and would be able to return to the surface and activate a satellite transponder to enable recovery. It should not leave anything in the environment after it has been recovered (e.g. ballast). It would carry high definition video cameras with recording systems, light source and environmental sensors (temperature, transmissometry, oxygen and salinity). The device must be deployable over the side of small to large vessels of opportunity without the assistance of a crane. It must be cost effective so a large number can be deployed at any one time by the global scientific community. We think that such a device will require the use of, or creation of, super-strong light-weight materials to survive pressures at full ocean depth and still be lifted and deployed by 1-2 people on deck.