{"371461":{"#nid":"371461","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Robotics Research at the Bottom of the Earth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EThis past fall, Ph.D. student Anthony Spears\u2019 studies with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Georgia Tech took him to one of the most remote places on earth. Spears spent October and November in Antarctica as part of Georgia Tech\u2019s Sub-Ice Marine and PLanetary-analog Ecosystems (SIMPLE) team. The SIMPLE team is made up of researchers from ECE, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), and the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, as well as other research institutions across the United States. Their research involves the design, development, and testing of an autonomous underwater vehicle for use in polar regions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EThe team\u2019s focus is on the formation and evolution of icy ocean environments that mimic the conditions on Jupiter\u2019s innermost moon, Europa. Their findings will help determine if Europa could support life and inform future exploration to the icy moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EFunded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the \u003Cem\u003ENational Aeronautics and Space Administration\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E (\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENASA\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E),\u003C\/em\u003E the expedition centered on the deployment of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) including Georgia Tech\u2019s Icefin vehicle, which was designed to collect video and other scientific data from under the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. In addition to assisting with the development and design of Icefin, Spears, who is advised by ECE Professor Ayanna Howard, helped with the deployment and data collection. Spears\u2019 Ph.D. research will use the data collected from this trip in the development of algorithms that will improve future under-ice navigation systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EThe vehicle itself combines portability with a large suite of instrumentation used for analyzing the under-ice conditions. It is a modular vehicle, which allows each part to be broken down and modified separately. Icefin is rated to go down to 1500 meters and can withstand temperatures of -40\u00b0C. It has five directional thrusters for motion, two cameras, sonars, a conductivity-temperature sensor, a depth sensor, and an altimeter. Also included are a Doppler velocity log and an inertial measurement unit for sensors. These aid in localization of the vehicle as compasses cannot be used at such an extreme latitude.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EAfter deployment and testing in a ten meter diameter test tank, Icefin was ready for its maiden voyage under the ice. On November 23, 2014 Icefin was successfully deployed in a dive jetty (a large hole used by ice divers) near McMurdo Station. Four days later, it was taken out to the Ross Ice Shelf where a team of ice drillers had already drilled a hole through the 14-meter thick ice. Using a tether and winch system with a 15-foot tripod, the vehicle was lowered into the ice the following day. Descending to a 500 meter depth at the bottom of the ocean, Icefin recorded data from a location never seen by humans. In addition to scientific data measuring currents, temperature, and depth, the vehicle gathered images of sea life including sea stars, brittle stars, crustaceans, anemones, and sponges. The fact that such a severe habitat is able to sustain life was of great interest to the SIMPLE team and could point to possible life in similar environments such as Europa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EWhile Icefin\u2019s missions were successful, the isolation and harsh environment posed challenges to the team during their two months in the field. \u201cThe challenge in doing engineering work with such a complex vehicle without the regular infrastructure available to us in Atlanta proved difficult,\u201d said Spears. \u201cWe were limited in capabilities, materials, tools, and human support. For instance, if a new part needed to be ordered, it would take multiple weeks to arrive. We were forced to be creative to solve any problems that would arise.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EThe extreme cold was another factor for the group. \u201cThe harsh environment is something you think about abstractly in the planning stages, but when you are out in sub-zero weather trying to thread a tiny screw through two layers of gloves without dropping it in the snow, or driving 20 miles on a snowmobile to the hole site, it takes on a whole new meaning,\u201d said Spears.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003ESpears\u2019 trip represents the first of many more for the Icefin vehicle and its team. Icefin performed its designed duties as an exploratory probe and was able to collect images and data from areas under the ice that had not been previously explored. Now that researchers know Icefin is working as designed, tweaks can be made for missions that are longer in duration in which more data can be acquired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Default\u0022\u003EIcefin\u2019s next mission is planned for 2016 in Greenland. In the meantime, the SIMPLE team will keep Icefin closer to home by testing and fine tuning it at GTRI-Savannah and even at the pool at the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpears is unsure if he\u2019ll participate in the Greenland trip, but feels fortunate to have been a part of the project thus far. He said, \u201cIt was an amazing experience to do robotics work out in the field at the bottom of the world. I can\u0027t wait to uncover the Icefin vehicle\u2019s potential as it readies for its future missions to the polar regions of our planet.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Ph.D. student Anthony Spears explores Antarctica\u0027s polar waters"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student Anthony Spears explores Antarctica\u0027s icy waters with help from an\u0026nbsp;autonomous underwater vehicle called Icefin.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ph.D. student Anthony Spears explores Antarctica\u0027s icy waters"}],"uid":"27842","created_gmt":"2015-02-02 16:17:56","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:01:50","author":"Ashlee Gardner","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2015-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"371221":{"id":"371221","type":"image","title":"The SIMPLE Team (left to right): Catherine Walker, Mick West, Jacob Buffo, Anthony Spears, Dr. Britney Schmidt, Matt Meister.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"The SIMPLE Team (left to right): Catherine Walker, Mick West, Jacob Buffo, Anthony Spears, Dr. Britney Schmidt, Matt Meister.","file":{"fid":"75005","name":"pa240169.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/pa240169.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/pa240169.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2739991,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/pa240169.jpg?itok=SiouSwe-"}},"371241":{"id":"371241","type":"image","title":"Testing Icefin in the Crary Science Lab tank - Anthony Spears, Dr. Mick West, Catherine Walker.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"Testing Icefin in the Crary Science Lab tank - Anthony Spears, Dr. Mick West, Catherine Walker.","file":{"fid":"75007","name":"dsc_0650.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0650.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0650.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6950691,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/dsc_0650.jpg?itok=VQvwMJDp"}},"371251":{"id":"371251","type":"image","title":"The Icefin vehicle in the field about to deploy - Matt Meister and Dr. Mick West.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"The Icefin vehicle in the field about to deploy - Matt Meister and Dr. Mick West.","file":{"fid":"75008","name":"with_the_drill.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/with_the_drill.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/with_the_drill.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":122586,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/with_the_drill.jpg?itok=Ioi9Dv4p"}},"371271":{"id":"371271","type":"image","title":"Icefin explores under the ice.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"Icefin explores under the ice.","file":{"fid":"75010","name":"icefin_beneath_the_ice.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/icefin_beneath_the_ice.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/icefin_beneath_the_ice.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":56222,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/icefin_beneath_the_ice.jpg?itok=BbxlP2Jf"}},"371211":{"id":"371211","type":"image","title":"In the field: Anthony Spears stands in front of the Mount Eribus volcano and McMurdo station.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"In the field: Anthony Spears stands in front of the Mount Eribus volcano and McMurdo station.","file":{"fid":"75004","name":"dsc_0539.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0539.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0539.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6631516,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/dsc_0539.jpg?itok=_jORrMhZ"}},"371231":{"id":"371231","type":"image","title":"In a Pisten Bully used to transport equiptment to the field - Britney Schmidt, Anthony Spears.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"In a Pisten Bully used to transport equiptment to the field - Britney Schmidt, Anthony Spears.","file":{"fid":"75006","name":"dsc_0111.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0111.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0111.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6511290,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/dsc_0111.jpg?itok=HBcPGntE"}},"371261":{"id":"371261","type":"image","title":"Out in the field - Britney Schmidt, Anthony Spears, Jacob Buffo.","body":null,"created":"1449245867","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:47","changed":"1475894347","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:07","alt":"Out in the field - Britney Schmidt, Anthony Spears, Jacob Buffo.","file":{"fid":"75009","name":"dsc_0468.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0468.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dsc_0468.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6104198,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/dsc_0468.jpg?itok=cGy-aqq8"}}},"media_ids":["371221","371241","371251","371271","371211","371231","371261"],"groups":[{"id":"1255","name":"School of Electrical and Computer Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlee Gardner\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnline Communications Manager, School of ECE\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ashlee.gardner@ece.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eashlee.gardner@ece.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ashlee.gardner@ece.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}