Scientists at Bigelow Laboratory are leading a groundbreaking project to explore the ocean's midwater zone, backed by a $2.2 million grant. This initiative combines advanced imaging and underwater robotics to identify elusive marine animals in the deep sea. The collaborative team includes experts from multiple institutions, focusing on underwater imaging, robotics, and genomic sequencing.
The team is enhancing an origami-inspired robotic device with a biopsy mechanism, enabling non-destructive sampling of soft-bodied organisms for genetic data collection. They are also integrating AI to automatically identify and classify imaged organisms, and developing a shadowgraph imaging system for internal anatomical analysis.
Future expeditions in 2025 will target under-investigated regions like the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans, with expectations of discovering numerous new species. This project aims to refine conservation strategies and deepen the understanding of midwater organisms' role in ocean health, marking a new era for oceanographic research.