COTSbot, underwater robot, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

[Airicist]

The COTSbot (Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish robot) aims to be a revolutionary advancement in robotic environmental monitoring and management, specifically to increase the efficiency of Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) eradication. Integrating state-of-the-art robotic vision and classification algorithms with experience in, and technologies for, shallow coastal water robotic monitoring, COTSbot also aims to provide a flexible tool that empowers a range of stakeholders to scale current eradication programs and protection of reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef.

Designer - Institute for Future Environments

COTSBot on Wikipedia

Team:

Matthew Dunbabin

Feras Dayoub

Peter Corke

[Airicist]

Crown-of-thorns starfish Detection system - COTSBot

Published on Aug 30, 2015

This work presents a novel vision-based underwater robotic system for the identification and control of Crown-Of-Thorns starfish (COTS) in coral reef environments. COTS have been identified as one of the most significant threats to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. These starfish literally eat coral, impacting large areas of reef and the marine ecosystem that depends on it. Evidence has suggested that land-based nutrient runoff has accelerated recent outbreaks of COTS requiring extensive use of divers to manually inject biological agents into the starfish in an attempt to control population numbers. Facilitating this control program using robotics is the goal of our research.

[Airicist]

Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish detection

Published on Aug 30, 2015

Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) are described as one of the most significant threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Since the 1960's, land-based nutrient runoff has accelerated outbreaks of COTS which are destroying large areas of reef.

[Airicist]

Article "COTSbot Is The Terminator Of Starfish"

by Edwin Kee
September 3, 2015

[Airicist]

Starfish-killing robot being tested

Published on Sep 4, 2015

This robot kills starfish to stop them from destroying the Great Barrier Reef

[Airicist]

Article "Could this robot save the Great Barrier Reef? Killer machine seeks out coral destroying crown-of-thorn star fish and shoots them with a lethal injection"
The COTSbot seeks out the scourge of the world's largest coral reef
The first sea trials took place in Queensland's Moreton Bay
Crown-of-thorn starfish are a threat to the Great Barrier Reef
The creators at Queensland University of Technology hope the robot will be on site by December

by Jennifer Russell
September 3, 2015

[Airicist]

COTSBOT - Robot terminates destructive crown-of-thorns starfish
October 8, 2015

Queensland University of Technology researchers have designed an autonomous robot that will cruise the Great Barrier Reef and inject the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish with a toxic solution. The starfish is no bigger than a dinner plate, but collectively it represents one of the biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef, having already destroying approximately 40 per cent of the reef.

[Airicist]

Crown of Thorns Starfish Threaten the Great Barrier Reef

Published on Oct 22, 2014

Help us save the Great Barrier Reef. Your donation will support our research on containing the Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks that devastate the Reef: australianmuseum.net.au/help-the-reef

Since 1980, Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral. The main causes are storm damage and COTS. We can’t stop the storms, but we can promote coral recovery by containing COTS.

Further research is required on causal factors and methods of control. The Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station is ideally located for COTS research and has hosted significant discoveries, such as the new single-shot injection technique shown in the video above.

It is expensive to maintain first-rate marine research facilities on a remote tropical island. Visiting scientists contribute as much as they can afford, but the Station could not continue without the ongoing support of the Australian Museum and donors.

[Airicist]

Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish Robot (COTSBot )

Published on Nov 15, 2015

[Airicist]

RangerBot: the robo reef protector

Published on Aug 30, 2018