Global warming is a sensitive subject. Some believe that we, as humans, have contributed greatly to this affect. While others say climate change is a natural cycle. Researchers from Northern Illinois University plan on searching for the answers using a new robotic submarine called SIR (sub-ice rover). “This one-of-a kind ROV (remotely operated vehicle), built by DOER Marine especially for NIU, is truly a feat of ingenuity, engineering and technology,” said Ross Powell, an NIU Board of Trustees Professor of geology. “The entire project will be groundbreaking in several ways; we have developed new technology and new instrumentation to explore parts of our planet that have never been seen before and to collect unique scientific data that are aimed at helping plan for humanity’s future as the earth’s climate changes.” The sub is equipped with five cameras, a water sampler, a sediment corer, a Doppler current meter, more than two dozen sensors, a laser-beam for measuring objects, a robotic arm that uses ‘fingers’ for gathering samples, a gadget for imaging and mapping the seafloor surface, an acoustic sounder, similar to sonar, for profiling sub-seafloor sediment and various other instruments. Perhaps we will get more insight to what’s causing climate change with this new robotic sub and get a better understanding of how to deal with it.
