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Date Published: 20/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Cartagena University designs unmanned robotic boat to monitor Mar Menor
The vessel has already been tested in the Mar Menor, Murcia
The Polytechnical University of Cartagena (UPCT) has designed a solar-powered unmanned boat, christened ASV-Boya, capable of making decisions and sailing indefinitely, which has already been tested in the Mar Menor.
The purpose of the robotic boat is to test and monitor lakes and shallow seas completely independently, as the vessel is capable of moving autonomously and even choosing which part of lagoon will reveal the most interesting data, which includes physical-chemical values such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, density, pH levels and chlorophyll levels.
Using solar photovoltaic energy, the robotic boat is capable of operating indefinitely and could be incredibly useful in the efforts to save the Mar Menor, which is in a fragile state after an episode of anoxia left thousands of fish dead. Experts have estimated that just three of these new monitoring devices would be capable of analysing the entire lagoon every quarter, providing priceless data for scientists.
An added bonus is that this device uses unique new technology to ‘anchor’ itself in place, turning the vessel into a buoy while tests are carried out or while the boat’s solar batteries are recharged.
Image: Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena
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