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Innovative Aquatic Robot Development at Binghamton University
Researchers at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York system, have created an innovative self-powered device capable of navigating water surfaces. Their goal is to transform the field of aquatic robotics.
Futurists anticipate that by the year 2035, over one trillion autonomous devices will be interwoven into daily human life as part of the expanding “internet of things.” This evolution suggests that virtually any object, regardless of size, will autonomously relay information to a centralized system without human input.
However, this ambition is complicated by the fact that water covers approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface, which presents significant environmental and logistical hurdles. Addressing these complexities, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has initiated a project known as the Ocean of Things.
For more than ten years, Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi of Binghamton University, affiliated with the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and directing the Center for Research in Advanced Sensing Technologies and Environmental Sustainability (CREATES), has been receiving funding from the Office of Naval Research to investigate the potential of bacteria-powered biobatteries. These batteries could potentially last up to a century. Professor Choi, along with Anwar Elhadad, a doctoral candidate, and fellow PhD student Yang “Lexi” Gao, has contributed to the development of this new aquatic robot.
This new technology for aquatic robots harnesses bacterial energy, which proves to be more dependable in challenging environments compared to traditional energy sources like solar, kinetic, or thermal systems. The robots feature a Janus interface, designed to be hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the other, allowing the device to absorb nutrients from the water and retain them to support bacterial growth.
“When conditions are suitable for the bacteria, they shift to a vegetative state and generate power,” Choi explained. “However, when conditions become less favorable, such as in cold temperatures or nutrient-poor environments, they revert to a spore state. This mechanism enables us to extend the robot’s operational lifespan.”
Research conducted by Choi’s team demonstrated that the robots can generate nearly 1 milliwatt of power, sufficient to drive the mechanical movements of the robot and operate sensors capable of monitoring various environmental parameters, including water temperature, pollution levels, and the activities of both marine and aerial traffic.
These agile robots represent a significant advancement over existing “smart floats,” which are typically fixed in place and unable to relocate. The flexibility to deploy these devices in varying locations enhances their utility for environmental monitoring and data collection.
Moving forward, the team’s next phase involves determining which bacterial strains are most effective at generating energy in the challenging conditions of the ocean.
“We utilized common bacterial strains, but further research is necessary to ascertain the specific microorganisms thriving in different oceanic regions,” Choi remarked. “In previous studies, we’ve shown that employing a combination of various bacterial cells can enhance both durability and power output. Additionally, there is potential to leverage machine learning to identify the optimal mix of bacterial species for maximizing energy efficiency and sustainability.”
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