Underwater 'Roombas' are searching the ocean floor for barrels of toxic chemicals off California

Ocean scientists are using robot submariness to detect barrels of toxic chemicals under the sea. Thousands of barrels of DDT and other substances are believed submerged in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles, but authorities aren't sure where or how many. To get an idea, researchers have launched two'underwater Roombas,' Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS (REMUS) that can operate in waters ranging from 80 feet to about 20,000 feet. The vehicles take 12 hours to recharge, so while one is scanning the seafloor with its sonar the other is powering up and passing along its findings. Ocean scientists are using'underwater Roombas' to scan the ocean floor for barrels of toxic chemicals, including the banned pesticide DDT.