IMAPS, or Interactive Mobile Aqua Probing & Surveillance system, is a self-propelled mobile robot created by Rowan University team of engineering and biology faculty and students. It collects PH, dissolved oxygen, or other chemical and biological data in water bodies. It can also observe the ecology with its both above and underwater cameras and broadcast the scenes to the world via Internet.
Started from early 2005, the interdisciplinary project has evolved three major generations: a torpedo style Observer, a catamaran style Prober that can sample water 100ft deep, and a tank style Explorer that can work on complex terrain such as marsh or creeks.
The IMAPS robot can take commands from human operators. It can also pilot itself following given way points. Currently, we are building more intelligence to the robot so it can plan the path itself, trace the pollution source, or simply follow a turtle.
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