Events
A cigar-shaped submarine robot is preparing for its first adventure under the Antarctic ice. The boat's destination is the Ross Ice Shelf, which “peeks out” from West Antarctic waters like a floating tongue. Experts plan to obtain previously unseen images of a ice shelf, the ice of which is corroded by warm sea water.
“The submarine is specifically designed to enter an area where no person has ever set foot, and most likely will never set foot,” says Ross Powell. geologist at Northern Illinois University. Powell presented the capabilities of the robot submarine in 2010 at the fall session of the American Geophysical Union.
Icy underwater world
Scientists plan to use a jet of hot water to drill a hole 800 meters deep, which will allow the robot to penetrate only 76 cm in width. But this is quite enough for an 8.5-meter-long robot in the shape of a cigar, while its width is 56 cm.
As soon as the submarine enters the water, it is leveled. The robot is able to take pictures, as well as record physical, chemical and biological measurements of ice, water and bottom sediments. It then transmits the received information to the surface using a 3-kilometer cable.
Different wells will be used for each of the robot's “visits”, each “visit” will last up to 10 days, but scientists, nevertheless, hope to get a complete picture of what is happening under the glacier. “Our experiment will continue throughout the year, as we want to get a full understanding of what is happening in ocean waters in connection with the ongoing changes in the environment,” explained Powell.
Back to the surface
A robot can stay at depths for an infinite amount of time because it is powered by generators on the surface rather than running on its own battery. However, his time of stay is limited to scientists. Robotics engineers at the San Francisco Maritime Institute DOER have developed a robot resiliency system in the event of a disaster. If the robot suddenly loses control, it will collapse hydraulically, vertically, so that specialists can then remove it using a cable connected to it.
Preparing for the descent
Powell and Reed Scherer, another geologist from Northern Illinois, are planning to test the robot in Lake Tahoe between California and Nevada in March 2011. They are then planning a long trip to Antarctica to test the robot near McMurdo Station in 2011 and 2012. They then plan to use a robot to explore the lake below the Antarctic ice sheet in 2013. Finally, the submarine will explore the Rosa Ice Shelf in 2013 or 2014.
Researchers plan that with the help of installed technologies, the robot will be able to transmit video images in real time, which will be broadcast on television and in various museums, so people will have the opportunity to follow ongoing underwater research.