We are currently diving the robot at a site called Cape Armitage - about halfway between McMurdo and New Zealand's Scott Base. Here are a few images from the first dive there.
The photo above is of SCINI just entering the dive hole. We had a lot of trouble getting this hole made since the ice was about 32 feet thick. We used a melting machine called a Hotsy to melt the hole through the ice, which is why it has an odd shape.
The photo above was taken at about the same time as the first photo, but taken through SCINI's camera. The metal cage you see is to protect SCINI's optical dome while we learn to fly it - kind of like training wheels!
The next image is of a sea spider (pycnogonid) walking around the sea ice.
Next is a field of sea anemones:
Below is a photo of a starfish (acodontaster):
Next, two big Rosella sponge corals:
Another sea spider and sponge coral:
And the last image is another sponge coral and sea anemone:
Finally, here is a link to some underwater video of SCINI recorded by a diver. It shows SCINI going through its paces, investigating sea life, cruising around and returning to the hole:
Below is a photo of a starfish (acodontaster):
Next, two big Rosella sponge corals:
Another sea spider and sponge coral:
And the last image is another sponge coral and sea anemone:
Finally, here is a link to some underwater video of SCINI recorded by a diver. It shows SCINI going through its paces, investigating sea life, cruising around and returning to the hole:
SCINI is scheduled to appear on the Today Show on November 17.
No comments:
Post a Comment