Concludes with the launch of a challenge to the international scientific community
From the 21st to the 22nd of November, “The Twilight Conference” was held in Madrid, an international forum aimed at exploring technologies that will contribute to the development of a new generation of bio-inspired and autonomous underwater robots.
Organised by monodon by Navantia, with sponsorship from SAES and the Young Academy of Spain, the event took place at the Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinámicas de El Pardo, part of the Instituto de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA). The event was streamed live on YouTube and Twitch.
Over two days, high-level international scientists gathered to discuss the future of underwater drones, new materials, challenges in topological analysis, and underwater communication, among other topics. Notable attendees included Samuel Sánchez (IBEC Barcelona, MIT Innovator Under 35 Award, Princess of Girona Foundation Award for Scientific Research, among other distinctions); Daniel García González (UC3M, National Research Award for Young People 2023); Katherine Villa (Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia); and Abdon Pena Francesch (University of Michigan, Materials Science and Engineering).
“The Twilight Conference” featured the presence and participation of top-level international speakers from Japan, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Spain. The presentations covered new materials, biomaterials and nanomaterials; bio-inspired and soft robotics; soft and fluid-based mechanisms; neuromorphic computing and robotic autonomy; underwater communication; and drone swarms.
Additionally, speakers and attendees enjoyed a guided tour of INTA‘s hydrodynamic facilities, where the navigation of all types of ships (both military and civilian) has been researched for almost a century. The so-called “Calm Waters Channel” is one of the largest in the world, measuring 320 metres in length, 12.5 metres in width, and almost 7 metres in depth.
In addition to sharing the latest scientific advances, new collaboration opportunities emerged throughout the conference to develop these innovative technologies in the coming years.
“This conference has been organised to advance the development of underwater drones. In most cases, bio-inspired technologies are used, and we are analysing new materials, energy harvesting, chemical propulsion, and other scientific innovations and systems that we believe will greatly contribute to the challenge we have launched,” says Patricia Sierra, Innovation Lead at monodon.
The monodon challenge
Design an autonomous, bio-inspired vehicle capable of underwater exploration at depths of over 200 metres. This is the challenge that monodon has launched to the international scientific community.
The year-long challenge was launched on Friday, the 22nd of November, at the end of the “Twilight Conference,” a scientific conference named after the maritime zone between 200 and 1,000 metres deep.
Each proposal must focus on one or a combination of the following research topics: bio-inspired aquatic locomotion, flexible structures for underwater environments, materials and manufacturing methods for underwater environments, sensing capabilities, energy-efficient and self-sufficient operation, and/or underwater optical communication.
The challenge will culminate with the selection of winners in three categories, who will receive support from the promoters to publish their research, investigate their proposal in a laboratory, or develop a prototype.
“Underwater robotics will have enormous potential for scientific applications, exploration, or monitoring of critical underwater infrastructure. Learning from nature and developing bio-inspired vehicles will increase energy efficiency, sensing capabilities, and manoeuvrability. On the other hand, research into new materials is essential for the adaptability and survival of these devices in high-pressure underwater conditions,” explains Patricia Sierra, Innovation Lead at monodon.
