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Test Rescue Missions

Thales Australia has been working with students at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as part of the Industry Studio Collaboration Project. Team members recently tested custom ROV control software with some basic underwater manoeuvring and an underwater item-collection challenge using an ROV equipped with a dustpan. Sounds like the next project hurdle will be to implement autonomous behaviour by the ROV so it can identify and collect items without a pilot. Quite a challenge!

Full article at: Thales Test Tank Rescue Mission

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Red Scorpion Fish

We spotted this super-camouflaged, stealth predator on a BlueROV2 dive in Batemans Bay NSW this morning.

Dave said the sting from one of these dorsal fins was the most painful experiences he has had… He has since learned that the venom can be denatured with very hot water.

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Kelp Holdfasts

Did you know that kelp don’t have roots? They use branching, root-like, gnarled structures called holdfasts to anchor themselves to rocks. Holdfasts don’t carry nutrients or water – they are only for securing the kelp to a rock where it will grow.

Here is a photo of a (yellowish) holdfast that we saw recently on a dive with our modified BlueROV2:

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Underwater Archaeology in Australia

Check out our short video about some of the rivers, gardens and gorges hidden under the waves of Batemans Bay

We continue to explore amazing Batemans Bay on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia, especially as life has slowed a bit with recent lock-down restrictions. The video in the link below shows some land-based features that must have submerged as the sea level rose over the last 20,000 years, and some of the life inhabiting those areas now.

https://www.facebook.com/undersearovAUS/videos/1686125375111379

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Youngest published AUS scientist

We love hearing about the next generation of scientists and explorers! Congratulations Rehan!

Rehan noticed and studied with the help of his father the interaction between brown-spotted wrasse fish and common WA octopus. The fish follows the octopus around while it is foraging – called nuclear-follower behaviour – so the fish can score an easy meal, flushed out by the octopus.

ABCNews 15aug21