Massachusetts Teen’s Robot to the Rescue in Buzzards Bay

A Massachusetts high school student has seized an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in developing a low-cost robot designed for monitoring coastal water quality.

Patrick McGuire, a student at Brookline High School, has partnered with senior engineer Mike Jakuba at WHOI to create TideRider, a water quality monitoring robot slated for testing this summer in Buzzards Bay.

Equipped with sensors for dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity, the TideRider will assess water quality around Onset Bay. According to a press release on the WHOI website, the system employs a low-cost, pump-less, semi-passive buoyancy engine. This technology allows the virtual buoy to drift at the surface during favorable tides and anchor on the seafloor as needed.

The project aims to raise public awareness about coastal water monitoring efforts. Funding for the initiative came from Woods Hole Sea Grant's Program Development Fund, with additional support from WHOI.

"The initial funding from Woods Hole Sea Grant yielded promising results last year, leading to a grant from WHOI that has supported Patrick as he prepares to attend Northeastern University this fall," Mike Jakuba of WHOI said.

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WHOI plans to deploy TideRider 2 in Buzzards Bay in early August, with operations scheduled throughout the summer. The public can follow TideRider's progress as it navigates Buzzards Bay waters, contributing to ongoing research efforts in coastal water quality management.

McGuire expressed enthusiasm about the project:

"Working with WHOI has been an incredible learning experience," he said. "I hope TideRider will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire others to explore STEM fields."