Objective
Chemical hot spots are geographic areas that contain rich sources of various chemical substances. The aquatic environment, and particularly the seabed, contains many chemical hot spots that require identification, but doing so today is expensive and inefficient due to the limitations of underwater monitoring technologies. These limitations are most evident in three very important aspects of human aquatic activity: marine mining for precious minerals, detection and monitoring of chemical pollution, and detection of underwater unexploded ordnance.
The proposed project will develop a novel method for locating chemical sources: small, low-cost AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), capable of sensing a specific chemical and autonomously navigating to where its concentration is highest, thus locating the hot spot. Since the turbulent aquatic environment disperses the chemical signals chaotically and obstructs the ability to track chemical plumes, the navigation algorithms for these torpedo-shaped robots will be developed by computerized simulations of chemical plumes.
These will be based on Bio-navigation - unique knowledge obtained from studied marine animals which perform precisely the same task, i.e. tracking the odour plumes emanating from their targets and navigating in the chemical gradient fields to reach the source. The project will create effective AUV navigation software, enabling AUVs to efficiently locate chemical hot-spots in the water; demonstrate their abilities in flow-tank and field experiments; and implement the new technology, both scientifically and commercially, as an integrated part of the EC Marine Bio-Remediation project currently conducted at Coimbra, Portugal. Furthermore, it is a crucial part in strengthening the skills of the researcher to wards creating a European research centre on robotic and cybernetic applications of marine animal behaviour.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
COIMBRA
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.