ROBOT TO STUDY WAVE, TIDAL ENERGY

New tool monitors effects of tidal, wave energy on marine habitat

Michelle Ma, February 5, 2015 (UW Today)

“…[The ‘Millennium Falcon’] robot will deploy instruments to gather information in unprecedented detail about how marine life interacts with underwater equipment used to harvest wave and tidal energy. Researchers still don’t fully understand how animals and fish will be affected by ocean energy equipment…The UW research team [will eventually deploy the Millennium Falcon and the instruments it transports, called the Adaptable Monitoring Package,in large-scale tidal- and wave-energy projects]…The instrument package can track and measure a number of sights and sounds underwater. It has a stereo camera to collect photos and video, a sonar system, hydrophones to hear marine mammal activity, sensors to gauge water quality and speed, a click detector to listen for whales, dolphins and porpoises, and even a device to detect fish tags. A fiber optic cable connection back to shore allows for real-time monitoring and control, and the device will be powered by a copper wire…” click here for more

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