Divers Use Bar Codes on Tablet Computers to Visually Control Underwater Bots

By Rebecca Boyle Posted 07.21.2010 at 3:41 pm 4 Comments

Underwater Bot Divers can control robotic submersibles, like this flippered one, by using a tablet computer that communicates with bar codes. via Technology Review

First dolphins caught on. Now underwater robots are using iPads to communicate, thanks to a new system designed at York University in Toronto.

As Technology Review reports, divers can use symbols on tablet computers to control underwater 'bots. The system could enable enhanced diver/robot collaboration.

Despite their importance for aquaculture, surveillance and oil-spill cleanup, it's still difficult to remotely control robots underwater, especially when they are not tethered to a mother ship. Radio waves are too easily distorted, sonar requires too much power, and aquatic particles interfere with light waves. One new system would give robots transmission capabilities, allowing them to relay information and work in swarms.

The waterproof tablets may be the solution. They can display two-dimensional bar codes, or tags, that are already in use for smart phone applications. The tag at left is showing 10 bits.

Robot Command Tag: via Technology Review

Flashing the tags at a free-swimming AQUA robot's underwater camera allows for fast, robust communication. It's better than other untethered communication platforms like sonar, Tech Review reports.

The tags correspond to a command stored in the robot's memory. When the bot is tethered, it can react to the tags instantly and transmit video back to the tablet. When it's untethered, it can respond to a tag command, perform its task and report back to the diver.

To date, the system has been tested in the open ocean and in swimming pools. Possible future uses include studying shipwrecks or even military applications, Tech Review says.

[Technology Review]

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4 Comments

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Dubi0us

07/21/10 at 6:14 pm

I thought that light gets distorted in the water, as the article says... so wouldn't that mean the robot might not see the right bar code (or tetris piece)??

And, doesn't that mean that there has to be a human diver accompanying the robot to hold the tablet in the first place? I thought the whole point of underwater robots and all was to eliminate the need for humans to be where the robot is...

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ford2go

07/22/10 at 1:57 am

I think that the concept is that 2 d barcode information can be extracted more reliably than other forms of light based com.

As for the need for humans, it seems as if the plan is to have a point of contact, and that robot would pass the info on to the others. Probably the point of contact would be in as 'safe' a place as possible.

Standard gripe with PopSci. This is not an iPad only trick. The requirement is 'waterproof tablet', presumably a bright one. A specially adapted iPad might be a candidate, as might a lot of other tablet computers -- even some types pf laptops could be feasible. Please stop using iPad/iPod/iPhone as the only choice in their respective areas.

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cjeam

07/25/10 at 11:24 am

Well actually the only requirement is a series of flashcards and a bright torch, which commonly divers already have. But this still in no way solves the problem of controlling remotely operated untethered underwater robots.