New Robot Uses Machine Learning To Protect Reefs From Lionfish

Lionfish, once imported to the Atlantic Ocean from the tropics for aquariums, have become an invasive threat to Atlantic coral reef populations. To make matters worse, they're covered in poisonous spines, making them difficult and dangerous for divers to capture or avoid. Hence, it has been difficult to address the threat they pose by attempting to control their spread.

A new type of robot may well be the solution to the problem. Designed by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, this new type of tiny submersible robot is designed to use Computer Vision, based on Machine Learning of thousands of photos, to identify Lionfish. It can then spear them with one of eight tiny spears, each of which is buoyant, thereby raising the speared fish to the surface.

The robot operates autonomously and untethered, thereby not only being able to operate independently, but also act as a guardian for any human divers present. It is not yet ready for Prime Time, as it still needs to be programmed with a navigation system to enable it to create 3D search grids of its surroundings, but if successful, this new system may both protect human divers, and the invaluable coral reef systems our oceans depend upon, at the same time.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning