Using robots to study icebergs

KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 27, 2022 – Icebergs originating from Greenland not only impact the environment by affecting sea-level rise and local ecosystems, but they can also damage offshore equipment and disrupt marine transportation. Researchers Mingxi Zhou and Chris Roman from the University of Rhode Island, and Zhuoyuan Song from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, received a $1.5 million award from the National Science Foundation to develop multi-robot systems for iceberg studies. The research team will develop multiple robotic platforms, including an autonomous surface vehicle, an autonomous underwater vehicle, and several underwater profiling floats, to map the shape of icebergs and assess their surrounding water. They will record the shape, size and drifting speed of the icebergs, and the properties of the surrounding water, creating a unique dataset to better understand iceberg melting and drifting processes. Zhou is the lead researcher on the project.