Behind the Looking Glass: Inside the Tanks at the New York Aquarium
Latest update September 1, 2018 Started on September 1, 2018Have you ever wondered what happens behind the glass at the aquarium when the people go home? Now you can find out by following New York Aquarium staff as they use the Trident Underwater Drone to get closer to aquarium animals than ever before.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has just opened a brand-new 57,000 sq foot exhibit space called Ocean Wonders: Sharks! at its New York Aquarium in Coney Island. This exhibit alone houses 115 marine species, including sharks, rays, other fishes, and sea turtles, in 9 exhibit tanks containing 500,000 gallons of water. With such large exhibits come logistical challenges associated with animal care and exhibit upkeep. Using OpenROV’s Trident Underwater Drone, we hope to monitor our fishy residents doing their thing—in exhibits and holding spaces throughout the Aquarium—in a manner that is less invasive than putting a diver in the tanks. With its small size and nearly silent motors, this ROV will be able to get closer to or observe the animals, even in those hard-to-reach places. Aquarium staff will use the ROVs to support behavior monitoring, health and veterinary efforts, tank maintenance, and education to give you an underwater look from the other side of the glass.