MEDUSA: Multi-Environment Dual-Robot for Underwater Sample Acquisition
The project in a nutshell:
The MEDUSA drone, developed by the Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR) at EPFL and Empa, enables the monitoring and sampling of water in dangerous or difficult to reach areas. The goal of the MEDUSA drone on board the LéXPLORE is twofold: it serves as a real-life testing ground for the development of this novel sampling/monitoring technology and it extends the capabilities of the platform to enable sampling in a semi-automated manner at an extended range.
The MEDUSA aboard the LéXPLORE will be able to sample 1 Liter and perform Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) measurements up to 30 meters deep. This system is intended to collect water samples for variables that currently lack adequate sensor-based measurement solutions. Additionally, drone-based sampling enables faster, and more accurate locational sampling compared to manual sampling from a boat.
Team members
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- Prof. Mirko Kovac, Principal Investigator; Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL and Empa
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- Dr. Kevin Holdcroft, Researcher, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL
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- Albert Taureg, Researcher, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL
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- Gaston Wolfart, Researcher, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL
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- Dr. Luca Romanello, Researcher, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL
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- Dr. Lachlan Orr, Researcher, Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR), EPFL
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