Climate Robotics Network

‘The Wild Robot’ is a subtle but powerful climate change movie 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e35rkRpq

🌎 Researchers at Dalhousie University used 900+ 🤖 robotic floats to estimate global phytoplankton biomass at 346 million tons. https://nvda.ws/40mgqss 🐠 Surprisingly, nearly half of this biomass is at depths satellites can’t detect, reshaping how we monitor the climate.

Robots are transforming offshore wind farm maintenance, enhancing safety and efficiency. Modern underwater robots are now capable of creating detailed 3D models of subsea infrastructure. These ‘digital twins’ allow engineers to monitor the accumulation of marine life on turbine foundations or identify potential structural issues, all from the safety of onshore control rooms. Moreover, these technologies can perform around-the-clock inspections in challenging conditions, reduce fuel consumption by up to 97%, and keep workers out of dangerous environments. As offshore wind capacity grows, these robotic innovations promise a more sustainable, cost-effective approach to renewable energy maintenance. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ex8aWwCb

🌱 Meet Plantolin: The Tree-Planting Pangolin Robot Prototype This year's winner of the Natural Robotics Contest is Plantolin, a robot designed to plant trees and combat deforestation. 🌳 The winning concept came from Dorothy, a California high school student who drew inspiration from the pangolin's natural digging behavior to create an eco-friendly solution for reforestation. Plantolin plants trees by digging with its claws and dropping seed bombs, and engineers at the University of Surrey have just brought Dorothy's vision to life! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eXh2FuyS #Climate #ClimateTech #Robotics #Reforestation

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐𝐂 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 A paper just out in Nature explores "overshoot pathways," where global warming temporarily exceeds temperature targets (eg 1.5C or 2C) before being brought back down. The articles argues that "it is misleading to frame overshoot as an alternative way to achieve a similar climate [reductions] outcome." The authors show that "the possibility that global warming could be reversed many decades into the future might be of limited relevance for adaptation planning today." Thrilled to see this important work published, and to have had the opportunity to provide some early feedback review on the paper. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: 💠 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬: Exceeding 1.5°C, even temporarily, could lead to irreversible consequences like sea-level rise and ecosystem loss. 💠 𝐂𝐎𝟐 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥: Largescale carbon removal is crucial to reversing overshoot and managing unpredictable warming, which could surpass expectations. 💠𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲: While CO2 removal is essential, technical, economic, and sustainability challenges may affect how quickly large-scale deployment can be achieved, which could influence the pace of temperature decline 💠𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬:  It is misleading to frame overshoot as an alternative way to achieve a similar climate outcome from climate reductions - because impact reversibility is not certain.  𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣:  --“We cannot be confident that temperature decline after overshoot is achievable within the timescales expected today. Only rapid near-term emission reductions are effective in reducing climate risks.” --"Emissions reductions need to be accelerated as quickly as possible to slow down temperature increase and reduce peak warming. -- "There is a need to prepare for an environmentally sustainable CDR capacity to hedge against long-term high-risk outcomes resulting from stronger-than-expected climate feedbacks." Carl-Friedrich Schleussner Malte Meinshausen Joeri Rogelj @Quentin Lejeune Sabine Fuss Gaurav Ganti #cimateaction #climaterisk #overshoot

Robotics can automate the circular economy of Climate Technologies. Take solar panels, for example. Robots can automate the manufacturing, installation, operations, maintenance, disassembly, reuse, and recycling of solar panels. We could continue to do all this manually instead, but manual interventions are slower than the pace of climate change. Efficiency solves for climate. #Climate #ClimateTech #Robotics

How is robotics driving sustainable innovation? The rise of robotics presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainability. While traditional robotics manufacturing has contributed significantly to environmental issues like e-waste and carbon emissions, green robotics offers a path forward. The industry can reduce its ecological footprint by incorporating eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient manufacturing, and designs focused on disassembly and recycling. This approach aligns technological innovation with environmental responsibility, paving the way for a future where robotics supports progress and the planet. https://lnkd.in/eHcbmzJH

Using robotics to tackle the climate crisis is a promising solution but comes with many challenges. Affordability, usability, and sustainability are among the biggest hurdles. That's why Alexandra Nilles and I advocate for a minimalist approach to climate robotics. Check out our latest article to learn more about this movement. #ClimateAction #Robotics #Minimalism

NASA Engineers Design Underwater Robots to Combat Climate Change. More specifically, they're developing underwater robot probes to measure ice shelf melting in Antarctica, providing critical data to improve predictions of sea level rise caused by climate change. NASA developed these robots to operate in extreme environments and gather data from hard-to-reach areas beneath ice shelves. The probes, which lack propulsion and rely on drifting, will collect year-long data before transmitting it via satellite. This initiative aims to enhance global climate models by offering insights into how rising ocean temperatures accelerate ice shelf erosion. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eSNGjiGS

So pleased to be curating this first-of-a-kind showcase with 🔥THE HEAT 🙏