Feb 26, 2018
Hydromea carried out a series of successful measurement campaigns
deploying a Vertex AUV in several Swiss lakes during the summer and fall
of 2017. These campaigns were part of a research collaboration between
Hydromea and the Ecole Polytechnique Lausanne, Switzerland (EPFL).
During a series of deployments in Lago Cadagno (Ticino) the Vertex
mapped a thin bacterial layer, a phenomenon only known to occur in a
handful of other lakes around the world. The Vertex used its built-in
sensor payload to detect the bacterial layer and automatically adapted
its depth to stay within it. While moving through the layer the Vertex
recorded 8 different parameters using a fully equipped EXO2 sonde from
YSI. In addition, the Mini FT07, a fast (100 Hz), high-resolution (10
micro degree Celsius) temperature sensor, custom developed by Hydromea,
provided information on the micro-turbulences caused by the bacteria.
After having sold 2 Vertex AUVs to EPFL, another 5 vehicles are
currently built and will be delivered to EPFL in Q2/2018. These vehicles
will become part of the 2018 measurement campaign which will map
large-scale phenomena in lake Geneva using multiple Vertex AUVs.