Could Underwater Drones Help Ocean Conservation?

These small drones are brimming with technology, including sensors, high-definition cameras, and long-lasting batteries. Advocates for the drones laud their potential cost savings, noting that six AUVs can do the same work as one conventional submersible. The devices can stay under the surface for up to a month while transmitting data continuously. The drones can monitor water conditions and temperature and be hooked into rechargeable docking stations embedded into the artificial reefs. Their proximity would, in theory, protect the reefs by alerting scientists about any changes in the area, from boats to illegal fishing. 

EONIOS is the result of collaboration from several companies and countries, including the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute’s AUV makers Arkeocean of France, Cypriot tech company SignalGeneriX and French consultancy company Lanego. 

“The reefs attract everything from vegetation to large fish and for waters off Cyprus where there isn’t enough food for fish, we aim to create the appropriate environment to bring such fish there,” CMMI CEO Zakarias Siokouros told The Associated Press following a demonstration of the AUVs’ capabilities at the Cyprus marina.

While the main goal of the project is to see how well marine life takes to artificial reefs, there’s already talk of how the AUVs could be used in the future. In addition to marine conservation, it will be interesting to see if these things are used for scientific research or even maritime security. The Associated Press reported that the EONIOS group wants to sell the project to counties looking to bolster fish industries with artificial reefs. The devices are reportedly very sneaky and almost untraceable, capable of transmitting data anywhere in the world from its Iridium satellite antenna.

Arkeocean official Tamara Brizard told the AP the devices could also “be used to detect seismic activity for offshore oil and gas exploration as well as finding suitable areas on which to build offshore wind and solar farms.” The current AUVs can take 11 pounds of tech to 984 feet, but newer versions could potentially reach 9,842 feet.