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In development at the University of Surrey thanks to a £620,000 grant, the wheeled autonomous bot will be tethered to a floating helium balloon, also referred to as a ‘helikite’.
“If the world is to reach net zero, we need to be able to check that emissions really are reducing,” said robotics researcher Dr Robert Siddall.
“Previous projects tried to use drones to monitor gas flux, but the quality of their measurements wasn't good, their flight time was too short, and airspace restrictions limited their use.
“Our robot balloon towers, kitted out with sensors and built here at Surrey, should solve many of these challenges.”
University spin-out company Surrey Sensors will build new, lightweight wireless gas sensors for the system, while Hampshire’s Allsopp Helikites will provide the helium balloons.
A diagram on the university website shows sensor ‘nodes’ installed at regular intervals along the tether between the 40kg rover and the helikite. The robot also features a balloon-tracking camera.
The complex project will combine a range of skills from across the university, including fluid dynamics, robotics, data analysis and sensing emissions.
The technology will be tested at Thames Water treatment works, the university’s land at Blackwell Farm in Guildford, and rice paddies in Spain.
“The UK water sector faces huge challenges in achieving net zero,” said civil and environmental engineer Dr Bing Guo. “One of the biggest issues is that wastewater treatment systems produce methane and nitrous oxide. These have a much greater warming potential than carbon dioxide.
“We don't have an accurate and affordable way to monitor these emissions. Our project will create innovative tools for the industry to achieve net zero.”
The Spanish rice paddy project will benefit from the remote sensing support of London firm Mantle Labs and Eurecat Technology Centre in Spain.
Dr Belen Marti-Cardona, associate professor in Earth observation and hydrology, said: “Rice farming is one of the main methane emitters worldwide and farmers can access financial incentives for implementing emission reduction practices.
“We are currently using satellite images to monitor whether these practices are being implemented around the world, and using simulation models to estimate the emission reductions achieved.
“This project will allow us to take ground measurements of the actual emissions, which are very much needed to calibrate and verify our estimates.”
The project is one of 13 to be funded by a £12m investment from UKRI's Natural Environment Research Council, Defra and Innovate UK.
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