Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI

Earth’s oceans and waterways face threats from climate change, pollution, and invasive species. To protect these environments, we need reliable ways to monitor their health. This project introduces a bionic sea turtle robot, inspired by green sea turtles, to help survey ecosystems with minimal disruption to aquatic life. The robot was designed with a custom propulsion mechanism and optimized using computer simulations and pool testing. It can navigate autonomously at various depths, following a set path using onboard sensors and control algorithms. An AI-powered computer vision system was developed, capable of detecting coral bleaching with 96% accuracy. This nature-inspired robot demonstrates how biomimicry and advanced technology can support marine conservation and ecological research.