The Sustainability Robotics research cluster aims to create, develop, and validate robotic systems for challenging Arctic environments. Water, air, and the transition between them can provide critical insights into the biodiversity of ecosystems and the impact of climate change. Robotic technology is a means to foster monitoring and scientific research in polar environments, but faces harsh environmental challenges.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles are often used to sample water under the ice and with autonomous sailing vessels sampling the surface. High-altitude drones monitor aerial conditions, and land robots can navigate the surface of the ice. However, these systems struggle to sample near-surface water pockets, lack rapid deployability, and have challenges to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Drones which transition between air and water and can land upon the latter can be robust and perform biodiversity monitoring or water quality measurement in remote aquatic regions without disturbing the natural ecosystems. This cluster aims to show that robots are invaluable tools which are able to provide insights into the environmental process in the Arctic, which otherwise would be impossible, dangerous, or costly.
Research Cluster PI
- Mirko Kovač, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
Research Cluster Collaborators
- Kevin Holdcroft, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Domitille Louchard, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Lachlan Orr, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Luca Romanello, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Gaston Wolfart, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Albert Taureg, Empa & EPFL, Switzerland
- Stephane Aebischer, Forel Heritage Association, Switzerland
- Natacha Tofield-Pasche, LéXPLORE, Switzerland
- Nikola Mišković, LABUST, Croatia