MRI RAPID: Swarms of Robotic Aquapods to Assess Impact of Oil Spills on Marshlands

提案号：10-61489PI(s): Papanikolopoulos, Nikolaos；Hondzo,杨爱瑾;Morellas Vassilios;Anaraki, Siavash Pourmakamali；题目：MRI RAPID：合作研究：成群的机器人水足类动物评估石油泄漏对沼泽地的影响项目建议：该项目，测试水下机器人是否适合快速和重复采样高尔夫大范围的石油泄漏，旨在确定对海岸线影响的空间异质性，揭示“热点”。由于海岸线形态、风力模式和水循环等因素的影响，这些地区的石油浓度较高，因此对勘探构成了挑战。为此，将部署名为“Aquapods”的小型机器人。水足机器人是一种微型机器人，具有很高的机动性和尺寸比。作为一种运动形式，它们以翻滚为基础，这使它们能够在水上、水下、沙滩和沼泽海岸线上运动。最新版本的Aquapod（作为IUCRC安全、安保和救援的一部分开发）可以完全淹没在水中，在湖泊或溪流的底部操作。此外，该机器人还配备了浮力控制单元，使机器人可以在水中下沉或漂浮，从而在环境监测和监视方面提供了许多独特的应用。这项工作开发了一个比第一代无线电控制设计更先进的系统，包含更适合监测石油泄漏影响的功能。更广泛的影响：由于拟议的研究可以极大地改善溢油清理工作，潜在的更广泛的影响是巨大的。该项目展示了评估对人类难以到达地区的环境影响的能力。ppi有一个坚实的计划，让来自代表性不足群体的中学生参与拟议的项目。此外，开发的仪器将免费供感兴趣的科学家团体使用。计划在明尼苏达大学和丹佛大学开展扎实的传播和教育工作。

Proposal #: 10-61489PI(s): Papanikolopoulos, Nikolaos;Hondzo, Miki; Morellas, Vassilios; Anaraki, Siavash Pourmakamali; Voyles, Richard M.Institution: University of Minnesota Title: MRI RAPID: Collaborative Research: Swarms of Robotic Aquapods to Assess Impact of Oil Spills on MarshlandsProject Proposed:The project, testing the adequateness of underwater robots to swiftly and repeatedly sample large areas of Golf Oil Spill, aims to determine the spatial heterogeneity of the impacts on the shoreline, revealing "hot spots." These are areas of high oil concentration that constitute a challenge since hot-spots move due to shoreline morphology, wind patterns, and water circulation. To this end, small robots called "Aquapods" will be deployed. Aquapods are miniature robots with a high mobility-to-size ratio. As a form of locomotion, they are based on tumbling which allows them to locomote on the water, under the water, and on sandy and marshy shoreline. A recent version of the Aquapod (developed as part of the IUCRC on Safety, Security, and Rescue) can be completely submerged in water to operate on a lake or stream floor. Additionally, this robot is equipped with a buoyancy control unit that allows the robot to either sink or float in water, thus offering many unique applications in both environmental monitoring and surveillance. The work develops a more advanced system than the first generation radio controlled design, incorporating functionalities more appropriate to monitor oil spill effects.Broader Impacts: As the proposed research can drastically improve oil spill cleanup efforts, the potential broader impacts are large. The project exhibits the ability to assess the environmental impact on areas not easily accessible by humans. The PIs have a solid plan to involve middle-schoolers from underrepresented groups in the proposed project. Moreover, the developed instrument will be free for use to the interested groups of scientists. Planned are solid dissemination and education efforts both at the University of Minnesota and the University of Denver.