Gallery: The Great Barrier Reef's Best Hope Is a Killer Robot
Grant Harvey01starfishkiller-full.jpg
The COTSbot is a 4.5-foot-long autonomous sub that hunts down coral-eating crown-of-thorn starfishes—and kills them.
Grant Harvey02starfishkiller1-antenna.jpg
Antenna: When the bot surfaces, it transmits its GPS location and other details via Wi-Fi.
Grant Harvey03starfishkiller2-propulsion.jpg
Propulsion system: five thrusters for five-axis mobility. “We are hunting on the seabed,” Dunbabin says. “We need movement.”
Grant Harvey04starfishkiller4-camera.jpg
Camera: The bot recognizes its prey by comparing suspects to an onboard database of images.
Grant Harvey05starfishkiller3-velocitylog.jpg
Doppler velocity log: This acoustic sensor measures depth and velocity so the bot can navigate the reef.
Grant Harvey06starfishkiller5-arm.jpg
Articulating arm: extends up to 3 feet to deliver a deadly sting.
Grant Harvey07starfishkiller6-injection.jpg
Injection system: Two pods mounted near the thrusters each hold 1 liter of bile salts. Once a target is ID’d, 10 ml of the liquid is sent to the needle and then—prick!—into the starfish.
