Researchers test new sampling device using ROV Ventana

Using a polyhedral sampler on the remotely operated vehicle Ventana to capture a small deep-sea jelly. Image © 2017 MBARI

Last year a research team from Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering went to sea with MBARI Marine Biologist Bruce Robison to test a new device for capturing animals underwater. They mounted their “polyhedral sampler” on MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana and used it to capture and then release deep-sea squids and several jellies

“We were happy to give them some ROV time for their innovative sampler,” Robison said. “It was exciting to see the design in action and it will be interesting to see where they go with it.”

On July 18, 2018 the researchers published a paper about their device in ScienceRobotics. Here are some videos that show how the sampler works:

Video produced by Harvard University: