we know more about other planets than our own and today I want to show you a
our own and today I want to show you a
our own and today I want to show you a new type of robot designed to help us
new type of robot designed to help us
new type of robot designed to help us better understand our own planet it
better understand our own planet it
better understand our own planet it belongs to a category known in the
belongs to a category known in the
belongs to a category known in the oceanographic community as an unmanned
oceanographic community as an unmanned
oceanographic community as an unmanned surface vehicle or USV and it uses no
surface vehicle or USV and it uses no
surface vehicle or USV and it uses no fuel instead it relies on wind power for
fuel instead it relies on wind power for
fuel instead it relies on wind power for propulsion and yet it can sail around
propulsion and yet it can sail around
propulsion and yet it can sail around the globe for months at a time so I want
the globe for months at a time so I want
the globe for months at a time so I want to share with you why we built it and
to share with you why we built it and
to share with you why we built it and what it means for you a few years ago I
what it means for you a few years ago I
what it means for you a few years ago I was on a sailboat making its way across
was on a sailboat making its way across
was on a sailboat making its way across the Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii
the Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii
the Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii I just spent the past 10 years working
I just spent the past 10 years working
I just spent the past 10 years working non-stop developing video games for
non-stop developing video games for
non-stop developing video games for hundreds of millions of users and I
hundreds of millions of users and I
hundreds of millions of users and I wanted to take a step back and look at
wanted to take a step back and look at
wanted to take a step back and look at the big picture and get some much-needed
the big picture and get some much-needed
the big picture and get some much-needed thinking time I was the navigator
thinking time I was the navigator
thinking time I was the navigator onboard in one evening after a long
onboard in one evening after a long
onboard in one evening after a long session analyzing weather data and
session analyzing weather data and
session analyzing weather data and plotting our course I came up on deck
plotting our course I came up on deck
plotting our course I came up on deck and saw this beautiful sunset and a
and saw this beautiful sunset and a
and saw this beautiful sunset and a thought occurred to me how much do we
thought occurred to me how much do we
thought occurred to me how much do we really know about our oceans the Pacific
really know about our oceans the Pacific
really know about our oceans the Pacific was stretching all around me as far as
was stretching all around me as far as
was stretching all around me as far as the eye could see and the ways were
the eye could see and the ways were
the eye could see and the ways were rocking our boat forcefully a sort of
rocking our boat forcefully a sort of
rocking our boat forcefully a sort of constant reminder of its untold power
constant reminder of its untold power
constant reminder of its untold power how much do we really know about our
how much do we really know about our
how much do we really know about our oceans
oceans
oceans I decided to find out what I quickly
I decided to find out what I quickly
I decided to find out what I quickly learned is that we don’t know very much
learned is that we don’t know very much
learned is that we don’t know very much and the first reason is just how vast
and the first reason is just how vast
and the first reason is just how vast oceans are covering 70% of the planet
oceans are covering 70% of the planet
oceans are covering 70% of the planet and yet we know they drive complex
and yet we know they drive complex
and yet we know they drive complex planetary systems like global weather
planetary systems like global weather
planetary systems like global weather which affect all of us on a daily basis
which affect all of us on a daily basis
which affect all of us on a daily basis sometimes dramatically and yet those
sometimes dramatically and yet those
sometimes dramatically and yet those activities are mostly invisible to us
activities are mostly invisible to us
activities are mostly invisible to us ocean data is scarce by any standards
ocean data is scarce by any standards
ocean data is scarce by any standards back on land I had grown used to
back on land I had grown used to
back on land I had grown used to accessing lots of sensors
accessing lots of sensors
accessing lots of sensors billions of them actually but at sea in
billions of them actually but at sea in
billions of them actually but at sea in situ data is scarce and expensive why
situ data is scarce and expensive why
situ data is scarce and expensive why because it relies on a small number of
because it relies on a small number of
because it relies on a small number of ships and buoys how small a number was
ships and buoys how small a number was
ships and buoys how small a number was actually a great surprise on National
actually a great surprise on National
actually a great surprise on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration better known as NOAA only has 16 ships
better known as NOAA only has 16 ships
better known as NOAA only has 16 ships and there are less than 200 buoys
and there are less than 200 buoys
and there are less than 200 buoys offshore globally it is easy to
offshore globally it is easy to
offshore globally it is easy to understand why the oceans are an
understand why the oceans are an
understand why the oceans are an unforgiving place and to collect in-situ
unforgiving place and to collect in-situ
unforgiving place and to collect in-situ data you need a big ship capable of
data you need a big ship capable of
data you need a big ship capable of carrying fastest amount of fuel and
carrying fastest amount of fuel and
carrying fastest amount of fuel and large crews costing hundreds of millions
large crews costing hundreds of millions
large crews costing hundreds of millions of dollars each or big buoys tethered to
of dollars each or big buoys tethered to
of dollars each or big buoys tethered to the ocean floor with a four mile long
the ocean floor with a four mile long
the ocean floor with a four mile long cable and weighted down by a set of
cable and weighted down by a set of
cable and weighted down by a set of train wheels which is both dangerous to
train wheels which is both dangerous to
train wheels which is both dangerous to deploy and expensive to maintain
what about satellite you might ask well
what about satellite you might ask well satellites are fantastic and they have
satellites are fantastic and they have
satellites are fantastic and they have taught us so much about the big picture
taught us so much about the big picture
taught us so much about the big picture over the past few decades however the
over the past few decades however the
over the past few decades however the problem with satellites is they can only
problem with satellites is they can only
problem with satellites is they can only see through one micron of the surface of
see through one micron of the surface of
see through one micron of the surface of the ocean they have relatively poor
the ocean they have relatively poor
the ocean they have relatively poor spatial and temporal resolution and the
spatial and temporal resolution and the
spatial and temporal resolution and the signal needs to be corrected for cloud
signal needs to be corrected for cloud
signal needs to be corrected for cloud cover and and land effects and other
cover and and land effects and other
cover and and land effects and other factors so what is going on in the
factors so what is going on in the
factors so what is going on in the oceans and what are we trying to measure
oceans and what are we trying to measure
oceans and what are we trying to measure and how could a robot be of any use
and how could a robot be of any use
and how could a robot be of any use let’s zoom in in a small cube in the
let’s zoom in in a small cube in the
let’s zoom in in a small cube in the oceans one of the key thing we want to
oceans one of the key thing we want to
oceans one of the key thing we want to understand is the surface because the
understand is the surface because the
understand is the surface because the surface if you think about it is the
surface if you think about it is the
surface if you think about it is the nexus of all air sea interaction it is
nexus of all air sea interaction it is
nexus of all air sea interaction it is the interface through which all energy
the interface through which all energy
the interface through which all energy and gases must flow our Sun radiates
and gases must flow our Sun radiates
and gases must flow our Sun radiates energy which is absorbed by ocean as
energy which is absorbed by ocean as
energy which is absorbed by ocean as heat and then partially released into
heat and then partially released into
heat and then partially released into the atmosphere gases in our atmosphere
the atmosphere gases in our atmosphere
the atmosphere gases in our atmosphere like co2 get dissolve into our oceans
like co2 get dissolve into our oceans
like co2 get dissolve into our oceans actually about 30
actually about 30
actually about 30 of all global co2 gets absorbed plankton
of all global co2 gets absorbed plankton
of all global co2 gets absorbed plankton and microorganisms release oxygen into
and microorganisms release oxygen into
and microorganisms release oxygen into the atmosphere so much so that every
the atmosphere so much so that every
the atmosphere so much so that every other breath you take comes from the
other breath you take comes from the
other breath you take comes from the ocean some of that heat generates
ocean some of that heat generates
ocean some of that heat generates evaporation which creates clouds and
evaporation which creates clouds and
evaporation which creates clouds and then eventually leads to precipitation
then eventually leads to precipitation
then eventually leads to precipitation and pressure gradients create surface
and pressure gradients create surface
and pressure gradients create surface twin which move the moisture through the
twin which move the moisture through the
twin which move the moisture through the atmosphere some of the heat radiates
atmosphere some of the heat radiates
atmosphere some of the heat radiates down into the deep ocean and gets stored
down into the deep ocean and gets stored
down into the deep ocean and gets stored in different layers the ocean acting as
in different layers the ocean acting as
in different layers the ocean acting as some kind of planetary scale boiler to
some kind of planetary scale boiler to
some kind of planetary scale boiler to store all that energy which later might
store all that energy which later might
store all that energy which later might be released in short-term events like
be released in short-term events like
be released in short-term events like hurricanes or long term phenomenon like
hurricanes or long term phenomenon like
hurricanes or long term phenomenon like any know these layers can can get mixed
any know these layers can can get mixed
any know these layers can can get mixed up by vertical upwelling currents or
up by vertical upwelling currents or
up by vertical upwelling currents or horizontal currents which are key in
horizontal currents which are key in
horizontal currents which are key in transporting heat from the tropics to
transporting heat from the tropics to
transporting heat from the tropics to the poles and of course there is marine
the poles and of course there is marine
the poles and of course there is marine life occupying the largest ecosystem in
life occupying the largest ecosystem in
life occupying the largest ecosystem in volume on the planet for microorganism
volume on the planet for microorganism
volume on the planet for microorganism to fish to marine mammals like seals
to fish to marine mammals like seals
to fish to marine mammals like seals dolphins and whales but all of these are
dolphins and whales but all of these are
dolphins and whales but all of these are mostly invisible to us the challenge in
mostly invisible to us the challenge in
mostly invisible to us the challenge in in studying those the ocean variables at
in studying those the ocean variables at
in studying those the ocean variables at scale is one of energy the energy that
scale is one of energy the energy that
scale is one of energy the energy that it takes to deploy sensors into the deep
it takes to deploy sensors into the deep
it takes to deploy sensors into the deep ocean and of course many solutions have
ocean and of course many solutions have
ocean and of course many solutions have been tried from wave actuated device to
been tried from wave actuated device to
been tried from wave actuated device to surface drifters to Sun powered
surface drifters to Sun powered
surface drifters to Sun powered electrical drives each with their own
electrical drives each with their own
electrical drives each with their own compromises our team breakthrough came
compromises our team breakthrough came
compromises our team breakthrough came from an unlikely source the pursuit of
from an unlikely source the pursuit of
from an unlikely source the pursuit of the world speed record in a wind powered
the world speed record in a wind powered
the world speed record in a wind powered land yard it took 10 years of research
land yard it took 10 years of research
land yard it took 10 years of research and development to come up with a novel
and development to come up with a novel
and development to come up with a novel wing concept that only uses 3 watts of
wing concept that only uses 3 watts of
wing concept that only uses 3 watts of power to control and yet can propel
power to control and yet can propel
power to control and yet can propel vehicle all around the globe with
vehicle all around the globe with
vehicle all around the globe with seemingly unlimited autonomy by adapting
seemingly unlimited autonomy by adapting
seemingly unlimited autonomy by adapting this wing concept into a marine vehicle
this wing concept into a marine vehicle
this wing concept into a marine vehicle we had the genesis of an ocean drone now
we had the genesis of an ocean drone now
we had the genesis of an ocean drone now these are larger than they appear there
these are larger than they appear there
these are larger than they appear there are about 15 feet high 23 feet long
are about 15 feet high 23 feet long
are about 15 feet high 23 feet long seven feet deep think of them as surface
seven feet deep think of them as surface
seven feet deep think of them as surface satellites the Ladin with an array of
satellites the Ladin with an array of
satellites the Ladin with an array of science grade sensors that measure all
science grade sensors that measure all
science grade sensors that measure all key variables both oceanographic and
key variables both oceanographic and
key variables both oceanographic and atmospheric and the live satellite link
atmospheric and the live satellite link
atmospheric and the live satellite link transmits this high-resolution data back
transmits this high-resolution data back
transmits this high-resolution data back to shore in real time our team has been
to shore in real time our team has been
to shore in real time our team has been hard at work over the past few years
hard at work over the past few years
hard at work over the past few years conducting missions in some of the
conducting missions in some of the
conducting missions in some of the toughest and ocean conditions on the
toughest and ocean conditions on the
toughest and ocean conditions on the planet from the Arctic to the tropical
planet from the Arctic to the tropical
planet from the Arctic to the tropical Pacific we have sailed all the way to
Pacific we have sailed all the way to
Pacific we have sailed all the way to the polar ice shelf we have sailed into
the polar ice shelf we have sailed into
the polar ice shelf we have sailed into Atlantic hurricanes we have rounded Cape
Atlantic hurricanes we have rounded Cape
Atlantic hurricanes we have rounded Cape Horn and we have slalom between the old
Horn and we have slalom between the old
Horn and we have slalom between the old rigs of the Gulf of Mexico this is one
rigs of the Gulf of Mexico this is one
rigs of the Gulf of Mexico this is one tough robot let me share with you a
tough robot let me share with you a
tough robot let me share with you a recent work that we did around the
recent work that we did around the
recent work that we did around the Pribilof Islands this is a small group
Pribilof Islands this is a small group
Pribilof Islands this is a small group of islands deep in the cold bering sea
of islands deep in the cold bering sea
of islands deep in the cold bering sea between the US and Russia
now the Bering Sea is the home of the
now the Bering Sea is the home of the walleye pollock which is a whitefish you
walleye pollock which is a whitefish you
walleye pollock which is a whitefish you might not recognize but you might likely
might not recognize but you might likely
might not recognize but you might likely have tasted if you enjoy fish sticks or
have tasted if you enjoy fish sticks or
have tasted if you enjoy fish sticks or surimi
surimi
surimi yes siree me looks like crab meat but
yes siree me looks like crab meat but
yes siree me looks like crab meat but it’s actually pollock and the Pollock
it’s actually pollock and the Pollock
it’s actually pollock and the Pollock fishery is the largest fishery in the
fishery is the largest fishery in the
fishery is the largest fishery in the nation both in terms of value and volume
nation both in terms of value and volume
nation both in terms of value and volume about 3.1 billion pounds of fish code
about 3.1 billion pounds of fish code
about 3.1 billion pounds of fish code every year so over the past few years a
every year so over the past few years a
every year so over the past few years a fleet of ocean drones has been hard at
fleet of ocean drones has been hard at
fleet of ocean drones has been hard at work in the Bering Sea with the goal to
work in the Bering Sea with the goal to
work in the Bering Sea with the goal to help assess the size of the pollock fish
help assess the size of the pollock fish
help assess the size of the pollock fish stock this helps improve the quota
stock this helps improve the quota
stock this helps improve the quota system that’s used to manage the fishery
system that’s used to manage the fishery
system that’s used to manage the fishery and help prevent a collapse of the fish
and help prevent a collapse of the fish
and help prevent a collapse of the fish stock and protects this fragile
stock and protects this fragile
stock and protects this fragile ecosystem now the drones survey the
ecosystem now the drones survey the
ecosystem now the drones survey the official the fishing ground using
official the fishing ground using
official the fishing ground using acoustics ie
acoustics ie
acoustics ie a sonar this sound sends a sound wave
a sonar this sound sends a sound wave
a sonar this sound sends a sound wave downwards and then the reflection the
downwards and then the reflection the
downwards and then the reflection the echo from the Sun away from the seabed
echo from the Sun away from the seabed
echo from the Sun away from the seabed or schools of fish gives us an idea
or schools of fish gives us an idea
or schools of fish gives us an idea about what’s happening below the surface
about what’s happening below the surface
about what’s happening below the surface our ocean drones are actually pretty
our ocean drones are actually pretty
our ocean drones are actually pretty good at this repetitive task so they
good at this repetitive task so they
good at this repetitive task so they have been grading the Bering Sea day in
have been grading the Bering Sea day in
have been grading the Bering Sea day in day out
day out
day out now the Pribilof Islands are also
now the Pribilof Islands are also
now the Pribilof Islands are also the home of a large colony of fur seals
the home of a large colony of fur seals
the home of a large colony of fur seals in the 1950s they were there were about
in the 1950s they were there were about
in the 1950s they were there were about 2 million individuals in that colony
2 million individuals in that colony
2 million individuals in that colony sadly these days the population has
sadly these days the population has
sadly these days the population has rapidly declining and there’s less than
rapidly declining and there’s less than
rapidly declining and there’s less than 50% of that number left and the
50% of that number left and the
50% of that number left and the population continues to fall rapidly so
population continues to fall rapidly so
population continues to fall rapidly so to understand why our science partner at
to understand why our science partner at
to understand why our science partner at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory
the National Marine Mammal Laboratory
the National Marine Mammal Laboratory has fitted a GPS tag on some of the
has fitted a GPS tag on some of the
has fitted a GPS tag on some of the mother seals glued to their furs and
mother seals glued to their furs and
mother seals glued to their furs and this tag measures location and depth and
this tag measures location and depth and
this tag measures location and depth and also has a really cool in a camera
also has a really cool in a camera
also has a really cool in a camera that’s triggered by sudden acceleration
that’s triggered by sudden acceleration
that’s triggered by sudden acceleration here is a movie taken by an artistically
here is a movie taken by an artistically
here is a movie taken by an artistically inclined seal giving us unprecedented
inclined seal giving us unprecedented
inclined seal giving us unprecedented insight into an underwater hunt deep in
insight into an underwater hunt deep in
insight into an underwater hunt deep in the Arctic and the shot of this Pollock
the Arctic and the shot of this Pollock
the Arctic and the shot of this Pollock prey just seconds before it gets Devore
prey just seconds before it gets Devore
prey just seconds before it gets Devore now doing work in the Arctic is very
now doing work in the Arctic is very
now doing work in the Arctic is very tough even for robots they had to
tough even for robots they had to
tough even for robots they had to survive a snowstorm in August and
survive a snowstorm in August and
survive a snowstorm in August and interferences from bystanders that
interferences from bystanders that
interferences from bystanders that little spotted seal enjoying a ride now
little spotted seal enjoying a ride now
little spotted seal enjoying a ride now the seat tags have recorded over 200,000
the seat tags have recorded over 200,000
the seat tags have recorded over 200,000 dives over the season and upon a closer
dives over the season and upon a closer
dives over the season and upon a closer look we get to see the individual seat
look we get to see the individual seat
look we get to see the individual seat tracks and the repetitive dives we are
tracks and the repetitive dives we are
tracks and the repetitive dives we are on our way to decode what is really
on our way to decode what is really
on our way to decode what is really happening over that foraging ground and
happening over that foraging ground and
happening over that foraging ground and it’s quite beautiful
it’s quite beautiful
it’s quite beautiful once you superimpose the acoustic data
once you superimpose the acoustic data
once you superimpose the acoustic data collected by the drones a picture starts
collected by the drones a picture starts
collected by the drones a picture starts to emerge as the seal leave the islands
to emerge as the seal leave the islands
to emerge as the seal leave the islands and swim from left to right they are
and swim from left to right they are
and swim from left to right they are observed to dive at a relatively shallow
observed to dive at a relatively shallow
observed to dive at a relatively shallow depth of about 20 meters which the drone
depth of about 20 meters which the drone
depth of about 20 meters which the drone identifies is populated by small young
identifies is populated by small young
identifies is populated by small young Pollock with low calorific content the
Pollock with low calorific content the
Pollock with low calorific content the seals then swim much greater distance
seals then swim much greater distance
seals then swim much greater distance and start to dive deeper to where a
and start to dive deeper to where a
and start to dive deeper to where a place where the drone identified larger
place where the drone identified larger
place where the drone identified larger more adult Pollock which are more
more adult Pollock which are more
more adult Pollock which are more nutritious as fish and fortunately the
nutritious as fish and fortunately the
nutritious as fish and fortunately the calories expanded by the mother seals to
calories expanded by the mother seals to
calories expanded by the mother seals to swim this extra distance
swim this extra distance
swim this extra distance don’t leave them with enough energy to
don’t leave them with enough energy to
don’t leave them with enough energy to lactate their pups back on the island
lactate their pups back on the island
lactate their pups back on the island leading to the population decline
leading to the population decline
leading to the population decline further the drones identified that the
further the drones identified that the
further the drones identified that the water temperature around the island has
water temperature around the island has
water temperature around the island has significantly warmed and might be one of
significantly warmed and might be one of
significantly warmed and might be one of the driving force that’s pushing the
the driving force that’s pushing the
the driving force that’s pushing the pollak north and to spread in search of
pollak north and to spread in search of
pollak north and to spread in search of colder regions so the data analysis is
colder regions so the data analysis is
colder regions so the data analysis is ongoing but already we can see that some
ongoing but already we can see that some
ongoing but already we can see that some of the pieces of the puzzle from the
of the pieces of the puzzle from the
of the pieces of the puzzle from the first sealed mystery are coming into
first sealed mystery are coming into
first sealed mystery are coming into focus
focus
focus now if we look back at the big picture
now if we look back at the big picture
now if we look back at the big picture we are mammals – and actually the oceans
we are mammals – and actually the oceans
we are mammals – and actually the oceans provide up to twenty kilos of fish per
provide up to twenty kilos of fish per
provide up to twenty kilos of fish per human per year and as we deplete of fish
human per year and as we deplete of fish
human per year and as we deplete of fish dogs
dogs
dogs what can we humans learn from the first
what can we humans learn from the first
what can we humans learn from the first seal story and beyond fish the oceans
seal story and beyond fish the oceans
seal story and beyond fish the oceans affect all of us daily as the drive
affect all of us daily as the drive
affect all of us daily as the drive global weather systems which affect
global weather systems which affect
global weather systems which affect things like global agricultural output
things like global agricultural output
things like global agricultural output or can lead to devastating destructions
or can lead to devastating destructions
or can lead to devastating destructions of lives and property through hurricanes
of lives and property through hurricanes
of lives and property through hurricanes extreme heat and floods our oceans are
extreme heat and floods our oceans are
extreme heat and floods our oceans are pretty much unexplored and undersampled
pretty much unexplored and undersampled
pretty much unexplored and undersampled and today we still know more about other
and today we still know more about other
and today we still know more about other planets than our own but if you divide
planets than our own but if you divide
planets than our own but if you divide this vast ocean in six by six degrees
this vast ocean in six by six degrees
this vast ocean in six by six degrees squares each about 400 miles long you’d
squares each about 400 miles long you’d
squares each about 400 miles long you’d get about a thousand such squares so
get about a thousand such squares so
get about a thousand such squares so little by little working with our
little by little working with our
little by little working with our partners we are deploying one ocean
partners we are deploying one ocean
partners we are deploying one ocean drone in each of those boxes the hope
drone in each of those boxes the hope
drone in each of those boxes the hope being that achieving planetary coverage
being that achieving planetary coverage
being that achieving planetary coverage will give us better insights into those
will give us better insights into those
will give us better insights into those planetary systems that affect humanity
planetary systems that affect humanity
planetary systems that affect humanity we’ve been using robots to study distant
we’ve been using robots to study distant
we’ve been using robots to study distant world in a solar system for a while now
world in a solar system for a while now
world in a solar system for a while now now it is time to quantify your own
now it is time to quantify your own
now it is time to quantify your own planet because we cannot fix what we
planet because we cannot fix what we
planet because we cannot fix what we cannot measure and we cannot prepare for
cannot measure and we cannot prepare for
cannot measure and we cannot prepare for what we don’t know thank you
what we don’t know thank you
what we don’t know thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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