Indian Institutes of Technology Develop Advanced Marine Robot

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 04 March 2024, 10:30:20 AM IST

Indian Institutes of Technology Develop Advanced Marine Robot
Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Mandi and Palakkad have unveiled a cutting-edge marine robot designed to address real-time challenges, reduce maintenance costs, and mitigate risks associated with underwater operations. Partially funded by the Naval Research Board (NRB) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the breakthrough research has been published in the Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems and Ocean Engineering.
The state-of-the-art robot is specifically crafted for meticulous underwater monitoring and inspections, offering heightened efficiency, minimized risks, and potential cost savings, according to the researchers.
Given that approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, with the oceans holding 96.5% of all water, the need for advanced underwater exploration and observation is crucial. Jagadeesh Kadiyam, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at IIT Mandi, emphasized the historical reliance on research ships for ocean observation. However, the limitations of ship cruises in terms of duration hinder detailed monitoring of oceans.
Kadiyam pointed out, "Ocean variables do not wait for the ship to come for measurements" highlighting the problem of under-sampling and the high cost associated with traditional observation methods. The marine robot developed by the researchers aims to overcome these challenges by providing longer observation times at a lower cost through improved spatial and temporal density.
The application of marine robots extends beyond ocean exploration to infrastructure safety concerns, particularly with aging dams and increased environmental stresses. Traditional inspection methods involving human divers are deemed risky, time-consuming, and expensive. Integrating marine robots into dam inspection procedures offers a safer, cost-effective, and technologically advanced solution.
Santhakumar Mohan, Professor at IIT-Palakkad, emphasized the challenges faced by researchers in developing marine robots, including communication difficulties underwater and the high component cost of underwater vehicles. Despite these challenges, the researchers conducted open-water reservoir field trials that signify significant progress in underwater vehicle technology maturity.
The prototype development and performance investigations of the underwater vehicle showcase its capabilities in handling external disturbances such as water currents and varying payloads. The researchers foresee the deployment of these advanced marine robots in various applications, including hydroelectric infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring of water bodies, and search and rescue operations.

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