Key information
- SWIM (Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers) robots, the size of a cell phone, are designed to explore the subterranean oceans of icy moons like Europa.
- These self-propelled robots demonstrated their ability to maneuver and correct their trajectory during a pool test.
- Researchers are also developing miniature sensors capable of simultaneously measuring temperature, pressure, acidity, conductivity and chemical composition.
A series of underwater robot prototypes were recently tested in a swimming pool as part of a futuristic NASA mission concept. The goal of these robots is to explore the underground oceans of icy moons, such as Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, in search of signs of life. The robots, the size of a mobile phone, would be deposited on the ocean floor by a cryobot (a device capable of melting ice) and would autonomously search there for chemical and temperature signals likely to indicate the presence of life .
The development of these robots, known as SWIM (Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers), is driven by NASA’s desire to explore potentially habitable environments in our solar system. While the Europa Clipper spacecraft will study Europa from orbit starting in 2030, SWIM aims to take exploration further by directly probing its underground ocean.
Testing and development
The JPL researchers tested their prototypes, made of 3D-printed plastic and equipped with commercially available motors and electronics, in a 25-meter competition pool. The robots demonstrated controlled maneuvering, trajectory correction capabilities, and an efficient “lawnmower-like” exploration pattern, all autonomously. During testing, engineers used a fishing pole to safely retrieve the robots when needed, while their colleagues monitored their performance and sensor data.
Beyond physical testing, the SWIM team also uses computer simulations to evaluate the robots’ potential in a virtual environment mimicking Europa’s conditions. These simulations help determine the limits of data collection, optimize exploration strategies, and refine algorithms for efficient swarm navigation.
Advances and applications
Georgia Tech collaborators also developed a miniature sensor capable of simultaneously measuring temperature, pressure, acidity, conductivity and chemical composition. This advancement allows each robot to gather a comprehensive understanding of its environment.
Although it is still several years before a real SWIM mission visits an icy moon, researchers envision immediate applications of the technology in oceanographic research and under-ice exploration, here on Earth.
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