A Robotic Solution for the Detection and Removal of Purple Sea Urchins
June 4, 2024Apsis Solutions Ltd. Engineering/Climate, 2023鈥�24
Liaison(s): Josh Jones 鈥�98, Scott Nocas
Advisor(s): Nancy Lape
Students(s): Francine Wright (TL-F), Brittany Pan (TL-S), James Clinton, Ryan O鈥橦ara, Katie Baakkonen (F), Eliza Barnett (S), Castor Service (S)
Along California鈥檚 coast, purple sea urchin populations have exploded, resulting
in the destruction of local kelp forests The Apsis Clinic team is developing a mobile robotic solution to identify and collect these sea urchins to contribute to kelp restoration. The team is developing a collection mechanism to be attached to an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) for removal of purple sea urchins, as well as a computer vision model for detection of the sea urchins.