As coral reef conservation efforts intensify, diverse teams are cultivating juvenile coral colonies for transplantation to the rapidly declining world’s reefs, but they need assistance. A brand new robotic A hands-on system has been designed to facilitate the transfer of juvenile corals between aquariums as they mature efficiently.
The system was developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), a leading Australian research agency, in collaboration with the Pastoral Corporation’s Coral Base. The device was designed to be used in conjunction with the Inspiration’s Coral Husbandry Automated Raceway Machine (CHARM), a cutting-edge, coral-farming robotic innovation.
On Australia’s Magnetic Island, at the Past Coral facility, small fragments of coral are carefully extracted from larger structures and nurtured in controlled indoor tanks until they mature into robust colonies capable of thriving in their natural oceanic environment.
Carefully nurturing young corals requires daily attention, encompassing tasks such as regular feeding, meticulous tank cleaning, and removing algae that can impede growth. As they mature, these duties expand to include precise tank transfers designed to optimize their development in tailored environments. All of these jobs are currently performed by people.
Despite past successes with coral reefs, unfortunately, there simply aren’t enough trained personnel to cultivate and maintain them effectively. hundreds of thousands of coral species that are likely to be needed to rehabilitate the planet’s devastated reef ecosystems. Charm’s mission is to satisfy that demand by relentlessly working around the clock at coral nurseries globally.
CSIRO
Utilising a diverse range of attachments, the robot is capable of executing various tasks, with the CSIRO-designed hand employed to gently lift corals from one tank and transfer them to another at a later stage?
Developed as a gripper, this innovative, soft-bodied system leverages advanced AI-driven generative design algorithms to identify and optimize a structure that effectively and safely handles delicate coral species.
This marine equipment must withstand prolonged exposure to saltwater, which poses a significant risk of rapid corrosion to its steel components. The 3D-printed gripper is primarily composed of rigid polymer and soft rubber components, with only a few steel elements consisting of screws and bolts.
CSIRO
Once cultivated, this expertise can be leveraged to transplant the mature corals onto reefs.
According to CSIRO’s Dr., this gripper mimics the delicacy of a human hand, allowing it to handle fragile coral tissue without causing damage, while also possessing the strength to lift objects of varying sizes. Josh Pinskier. “As we automate this process, we will support global initiatives to upscale coral farming and help revitalize the world’s reefs.”
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