Damaged Reefs Getting Repairs Using Robotic Hands
A new robotic hand, developed by Australia’s CSIRO and the Beyond Coral Foundation, is helping scale efforts to grow and transplant baby corals for reef restoration. Designed for the Coral Husbandry Automated Raceway Machine (CHARM), the gripper gently transfers fragile corals between tanks during their growth stages, a task previously done by humans.
The gripper, created using AI generative design algorithms, is crafted mostly from corrosion-resistant polymers and rubber, making it durable in saltwater environments. CHARM, equipped with interchangeable tools, can work continuously to address the labor shortage in coral nurseries, which need millions of corals to repopulate reefs worldwide.
Future developments aim to extend the gripper’s use to placing grown corals on reefs. Dr. Josh Pinskier from CSIRO highlights its precision and strength, emphasizing its role in global coral farming and reef restoration efforts.