Canada Science and Technology Museum
Want to explore the deep sea? The secret is robots!!
3 m
Jul 19, 2019
Media
Photo Credit
Photo by Shelton Dupreez, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (used with permission)
The Bathyal Ocean Observation and Televideo System (BOOTS)
Pitch darkness, near freezing temperatures, horrifyingly scary see-through monsters, and the weight of a couple hundred elephants crushing you to death. The bottom of the ocean is not exactly an easy place for humans to explore. But that doesn’t mean that we can just ignore the depths! The ocean is one of the final frontiers of exploration on Earth, and robots are the key to exploring and preserving it.
Exploring the ocean depths
For two weeks in July 2019, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nations, and other partner organizations will be uncovering the mysteries of Canada’s largest underwater volcano: the Explorer seamount.
Between July 19 and 28, the Pacific Seamounts Expedition team will be using a drop camera called BOOTS (the Bathyal Ocean Observation and Televideo System) which will collect biological, chemical, and geological data as it traverses this gigantic underwater mountain and its diverse ecosystems.
At the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, children attending the Robo-Lab summer camp are also tackling the challenges of deep sea exploration head on by programming their own deep sea robotic explorers using Ozobots.
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
Ozobot!
Robo-Lab and Ozobots
So, just what are Ozobots? Ozobots are small robots that are a great way to learn how to code. The robots follow lines and interpret messages you leave for them using colored markers. Certain color combinations cause certain behaviors, like zigzagging or spinning. And, for the purpose of deep sea exploration, those behaviors simulate deep sea robot actions, such as collecting water samples or taking photos of sea monsters.
The ocean explorers’ mission
Presented with a vast ocean (a legal sized piece of paper) full of marine creatures, the intrepid explorers must program their autonomous underwater vehicles (or AUVs) to navigate the depths while collecting scientific data including biological samples (making a zigzag) or a sediment sample (spinning).
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
Using given color codes (and other combinations they discover and experiment with!), the camper/explorers program their Ozobots to accomplish tasks.
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
The brilliant team of scientists, programmers, and engineers
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
testing: beep beep beep
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
Happy campers
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
Sometimes, the robots get confused and need to be reprogrammed. We like to call these ‘Bozobots’.
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
A future ocean explorer?
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
Fixing your code is part of the fun. So grab your markers, flip over the paper and try again!
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
The end result is a surprisingly complicated set of directions, and large variety of (simulated) data.
Linking the present to the future
Given another ten years, some of these junior programmers might be contributing to ocean exploration missions like the 2019 Pacific Seamounts Expedition. In order to connect the current and future ocean explorers, the children of the Robo-Lab will have the opportunity to video call the scientists and engineers on ship during the 2019 Pacific Seamounts Expedition. The young explorers will be interacting with live data from the ocean depths (via live-stream) sharing their own experiences operating a ‘deep-sea’ robot, and asking questions about marine science, robotics, and the challenges of exploration. It is a great opportunity for them to see how the skills they are developing can be scaled up and applied in the real world. Who knows, with their new-found programming expertise, they may even be able to make a suggestion or two to the expedition team!
Photo Credit
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (used with permission)
Pacific Seamounts 2019
Interested in finding out more?
The Pacific Seamount Expedition info and livestream: https://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/atsea-enmer/missions/2019/seamounts-sousmarins-eng.html
Ozobots: https://ozobot.com/
Ozobot lesson library: https://portal.ozobot.com/lessons
Ingenium summer camps: https://ingeniumcanada.org/summer-camps-2019#CSTM-camps
Canada Science and Technology Robo-Lab summer camp: https://ingeniumcanada.org/summer-camps/robo-lab-camp
Canada Science and Technology Robo-Lab Junior summer camp: https://ingeniumcanada.org/summer-camps/robo-lab-junior-camp
Photo Credit
Photo by Kyrke Gaudreau
The end
Author(s)
Michelle Campbell Mekarski, PhD
As the Science Advisor at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Michelle’s goal is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public — specializing in making science and technology engaging, accessible, and fun. Michelle earned a PhD in evolutionary biology and paleontology and has many years of experience developing and delivering science outreach activities. When away from her job at the museum, she can be found teaching at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University, digging for fossils, or relaxing by the water.
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