Research team develops clean water bots

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed an aquatic drone that can measure water quality throughout river networks with precision and pseed.

The maneuverable AquaBOT measures water quality indicators such as nitrate, temperature, and dissolved oxygen along the entire length of mid-sized streams where water quality can be variable.

“Compared to manual measurements taken in just a few locations, the drone gives a much more detailed picture of what’s happening along streams and rivers,” says Natalie Griffiths, a research staff member with Oak Ridge. “AquaBOT helps us identify hot spots where pollutants, such as excess fertilizer, are flowing into waterways. Pinpointing these areas is the first step to understanding water quality changes and developing solutions.”

Griffiths and colleagues at Drake University are using AquaBOT to study streams in Iowa croplands, evaluating potential sustainability practices with bioenergy crops. Her team is also adapting the technology to measure climate-warming methane emissions from reservoirs.