Hydrus packs autonomous ocean exploration tech into a much smaller package

While AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) are invaluable for gathering oceanographic data, they also tend to be fairly large and very expensive. The Hydrus offers a much smaller, less costly alternative, which still packs a lot of punch.Continue Read… Continue reading Hydrus packs autonomous ocean exploration tech into a much smaller package

Solar cells used to boost wireless underwater communications

Radio waves don’t travel well through water, which is why devices such as ROVS (remotely operated vehicles) have to be linked to their operator via a communications cable. According to a new study, however, solar panels may soon allow for practical und… Continue reading Solar cells used to boost wireless underwater communications

The winners of the 2022 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards

From oceans to lakes to swimming pools, the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest celebrates all kinds of images taken from below the water’s surface. This year delivers the competition’s most spectacular batch of winners to date including an ext… Continue reading The winners of the 2022 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards

Cuttlefish AUV pivots underwater to become a manipulator-armed ROV

When it comes to underwater robots, some tasks are easy to automate, while others are best handled by manual remote control. The Cuttlefish offers the best of both worlds, plus it cleverly changes orientation when using its two manipulator arms.Continu… Continue reading Cuttlefish AUV pivots underwater to become a manipulator-armed ROV

DARPA moves to phase 2 in long-endurance Manta Ray drone program

DARPA has awarded Phase 2 contracts in its Manta Ray program, which aims to build a series of underwater drones capable of taking on long-range, long-endurance, autonomous ocean missions without any human support for charging, maintenance or logistics…. Continue reading DARPA moves to phase 2 in long-endurance Manta Ray drone program

The best underwater photography awarded in the Through Your Lens contest

In its 17th year the Through Your Lens underwater photography contest continues to deliver an extraordinary assortment of undersea images. This year’s highlights include a stunning shot of a shrimp helping clean the teeth of a moray eel and a clever co… Continue reading The best underwater photography awarded in the Through Your Lens contest

Sunken forest invites divers to explore mysterious underwater playground

You can’t help but wonder what archaeologists will make of Jason deCaires Taylor’s work generations from now. If his creation of strange sunken heads in France has given them something to think about, then the British artist’s latest project, which inv… Continue reading Sunken forest invites divers to explore mysterious underwater playground

Online portal puts users at the controls of a real reef-diving ROV

Even in non-pandemic times, the Great Barrier Reef is still a difficult place for much of the world’s population to get to. That’s where Teleportal.Fish comes in, as it allows anyone with a computer to virtually visit the reef via a live link to a remo… Continue reading Online portal puts users at the controls of a real reef-diving ROV