Zostera

What it does

Zostera, an autonomous drone, allows citizen scientists to map seagrass meadows. Seagrass stores 10% of the ocean's carbon annually, yet faces a decline of 7% yearly. Sadly, traditional mapping methods are highly labor-intensive which leads to data loss.

Your inspiration

Two years ago, during lockdown when I wasn't doing much, I found inspiration in David Attenborough documentaries. During an episode of 'Our Planet', a discussion about seagrass caught my attention, revealing its incredible carbon storage capabilities and concerning decline. Learning that a single acre of seagrass can support nearly 40,000 fish and 50 million small invertebrates was eye opening. Thus, its rate of decline was even more disturbing. Convinced that design and engineering held the solution, I made it the focus of my undergraduate thesis.

How it works

Zostera empowers citizen scientists by efficiently mapping vast seagrass meadows. It captures geo-referenced images of the seabed while moving at speeds of up to 1m/s, significantly decreasing the mapping time. Clear images in coastal water can be obtained in depths of up to 3m (potentially more with further testing). Unlike current costly solutions, Zostera utilises affordable open-source hardware. This 'expandable' hardware allows users to add and remove sensors as needed, accommodating diverse budgets and thus providing an inclusive experience for citizen scientists and conservation groups. All the user must do is input the course for mapping using open source drone software (Ardupilot), place the drone in the water and wait for it to return. All data can then be uploaded to Zostera's database. Zostera is made from 100% recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), the most common waste plastic found in the ocean, adding a circular dimension to the product.

Design process

The design process began with interviews and Coastwatch meetings to understand the core problems in Irish seagrass conservation and to put myself in the shoes of a citizen scientist. Mapping seagrass is challenging due to the limited availability of citizen scientists, especially older individuals who cannot do traditional methods like freediving. Extensive research led to the creation of an accessible device for subtidal monitoring, specifically designed for mapping large seagrass areas. The autonomous drone concept was chosen after evaluating multiple ideas. Experts involved in initial research continued to aid development throughout the entire design process, ensuring that Zostera met their requirements. Prototyping began with cardboard models to determine dimensions. These early models informed the creation of CAD models, which underwent iterations using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Two final prototypes were then developed: a scale "Lookalike" drone showcasing the hydrodynamic form, and a "Working" prototype incorporating the necessary electronics for drone control. The "Working" prototype, housed in a lunchbox, underwent testing in a lake to validate its functionality. Multiple iterations were made to ensure that the prototype sailed without water ingress.

How it is different

The primary reasons for why Zostera is unique in comparison to other products is its expandability, low cost and circularity. Research with marine ecologists found that many current mapping products are inaccessible due to a high price point. The solution was to use opensource hardware and software, facilitating mapping functionality at a low cost. The added benefit of using opensource hardware is that the user can build upon their drone depending on desired functionality and budget. Many other mapping products use fibre composites as the primary material for the hull as it is commonplace in the marine & shipping industry. The decision to turn away from composite materials was made as there are no commercial operations for economically recycling them. Thus, waste PET from the ocean was chosen as it can recycled multiple times, providing Zostera with a circular material choice, further benefiting seagrass meadows and other marine habitats.

Future plans

Future plans for Zostera include applying for seed funding to finalise development, start manufacturing and applying to the 'New Frontiers' start-up programme. As per the EU Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, benthic habitats (seagrass included) must be monitored only once every three to six years. This means that vast amounts of data are being lost each year so we may not understand the factors which dictate all ecological changes. Zostera's low cost, efficient and low labour-intensive design can increase the mapping frequency, therefore having the potential to make real legislative change.

Awards

Zostera has won three awards: 'Best Major Project' for the top final year project at Technological University Dublin BSc Product Design, 'Best Technical Resolution' for the project with the most resolved technical solution, and the overall winner of the GROWTHhub ivenTUre start-up accelerator program.