The development of self-powered aquatic robots by researchers at Binghamton University holds the potential to revolutionize the field of aquatic robotics. These robots have the ability to skim across water surfaces and provide valuable data without the need for human involvement. This innovation comes at a time when futurists predict a significant increase in autonomous nodes integrated into various human activities as part of the “internet of things” by 2035.
One of the critical challenges faced in the development of aquatic robots is the vast coverage of water on Earth’s surface, which amounts to 71%. This poses environmental and logistical issues that need to be addressed. To tackle these challenges, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated the Ocean of Things program. This program aims to explore innovative solutions for collecting data from aquatic environments.
Bacteria-Powered Biobatteries
Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi, along with his team at Binghamton University, has been working on developing bacteria-powered biobatteries with a potential 100-year shelf life. These biobatteries serve as the power source for the self-powered aquatic robots. The use of bacteria-powered technology is more reliable under adverse conditions compared to other energy systems such as solar, kinetic, or thermal.
Self-Powered Bug Technology
The newly developed aquatic robots utilize a Janus interface that allows them to intake nutrients from the water while retaining them inside the device to fuel bacterial spore production. This unique technology enables the robots to generate power when bacteria are in favorable conditions and revert to spores when conditions are not conducive. The research conducted by the Binghamton team demonstrated power generation close to 1 milliwatt, sufficient to operate the robot’s mechanical movement and sensors for gathering environmental data.
The ability of these self-powered aquatic robots to navigate and collect data in different locations marks a significant advancement over stationary sensors. These robots can track various environmental parameters such as water temperature, pollution levels, movements of commercial vessels and aircraft, and aquatic animal behaviors. Their mobility and data collection capabilities make them valuable assets for research and monitoring aquatic environments.
As the next step in refining these aquatic robots, researchers aim to identify the most suitable bacteria for energy production under challenging ocean conditions. While the current study utilized common bacterial cells, further research is essential to understand the diversity of bacteria in different ocean regions. Investigating the combination of multiple bacterial cells to enhance sustainability and power generation is another avenue for future exploration.
The development of self-powered aquatic robots represents a significant leap in the field of aquatic robotics. These innovative robots have the potential to transform data collection and monitoring in aquatic environments, offering a more efficient and sustainable approach. With ongoing research and advancements in bacteria-powered technology, the future looks promising for the integration of autonomous aquatic robots into various applications.