Robots With Terrain-Relative Navigation Will Explore The Ocean Depths

A new submersible robot is preparing to explore the depths of the ocean without sonar technology. Usually, similar carriers are very heavy and cannot navigate their surroundings without the help of high-power equipment. This new autonomous model will save scientists in cost and increase the surface area they can uncover.

The robot called Orpheus has a vision-based navigation system similar to the one used in the famous Perseverance and Ingenuity devices that landed on Mars. It only weighs about 550 pounds and uses low-power cameras and lights along with advanced software to travel underwater.

“In the future, some of the most extreme ocean environments will be within our reach. From deep ocean trenches to hydrothermal vents, there are many new destinations we will explore,” said Andy Klesh, a systems engineer at JPL.

Scientists hope this new invention will help them answer important questions about life on other planets and discover new parts of the oceanic world. 

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