Design of a Low-Cost Autonomous Epipelagic Profiling System for Oceanic Research

The epipelagic zone, the region from the surface of the ocean to 200 meters in depth, is an area of interest for ecologists, biologists, oceanographers, and other researchers interested in studying marine life and the environment. While autonomous underwater vehicles that can allow researchers to collect data throughout the epipelagic zone exist, most of these solutions are too expensive to enable smaller institutions and individual research labs to conduct their own explorations. This project aims to create an autonomous epipelagic zone profiling system that is relatively inexpensive (<$2000), requires minimal maintenance, and is accessible to smaller and/or landlocked institutions. By providing a more accessible means of data collection, researchers can more cost efficiently conduct targeted studies of marine ecosystems to better understand the environment and topics such as the impacts of climate change on the oceans, or the changing population size of phytoplankton in the environment, etc. Through conversations with our stakeholders, Dr. Sheri Floge of the Wake Forest University (WFU) Department of Biology and Electrical and Computer Engineer Dr. Kyle Luthy of the WFU Department of Engineering, we established that our system should be able to autonomously descend to a depth of 50 to 100 meters underwater and collect data such as water temperature, and pressure, as well as capture images. U sing a systematic design process, the team was able to conceptualize a design for a low-cost modular buoyancy-controlled capsule. The capsule will be attached to a buoy system, to maintain its longitudinal and latitudinal position, from which it will be able to traverse the epipelagic zone to collect data. The team is currently in the process of prototyping and testing the system, and although the prototype will only have a few sensors, the modularity of the design will enable future users to purchase and attach various sensors (such as a PlanktoScope) that suit their needs. Over the coming weeks, the team will be completing assembly and conducting laboratory and field testing of the prototype.