NOAA Collaborates with Partners to Test Unmanned Underwater Vehicles which Record Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

In a collaborative effort between NOAA, the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, research merging robotics with biochemistry will give us a detailed, three-dimensional picture of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie in near real-time and take water samples for genomic analysis. The end goal is a Harmful Algal Bloom forecast to help managers make decisions about environmental health and public safety pertaining to the lake. AOML’s own Dr. Kelly Goodwin is participating in the project to help with instrument and sample recovery. For more information, read the article on NOAA Research.

Image Captions

From Left:

1. Loading eAUV cartridges into eAUV. Photo Credit: NOAA.
2. Testing the eAUV in shop. Photo Credit: NOAA.
3. eUAV Helium Test Seals. Photo Credit: NOAA.
4. eAUV Antenna. Photo Credit: NOAA.
5. loading eAUV for launch. Photo Credit: NOAA.
6. Loading eAUV onto the boat for launch. Photo Credit: NOAA.
7. Loading the eAUV for launch. Photo Credit: NOAA.
8. eAUV boat launch. Photo Credit: NOAA.
9. eAUV Cartridges. Photo Credit: NOAA. 
10. eUAV Helium Test Seals. Photo Credit: NOAA.
11. eAUV Deployment from boat. Photo Credit: NOAA.
12. Deploying eUAV. Photo Credit: NOAA.
13. eUAV at Launch. Photo Credit: NOAA.