They need and the British the great unwashed spoke . No , not Brexit , we are of course blab aboutBoaty McBoatface . Although the illustrious Arctic research shipdidn’t actually terminate up being named that – it has been discover after another illustrious Briton , Sir David Attenborough – the name did n’t go to waste material and has been bestowed upon the ship ’s inquiry submarine .
And the yellow robotic submarine is currently preparing for a one - of - a - kind challenge to take spot in 2018 or 2019 : to be the human beings ’s first enquiry vehicle to travel under the ice from one side of the Arctic Basin to the other .
" The NOC [ National Oceanography Centre ] has a farseeing story of innovation in marine robotics , andBoaty McBoatfaceis the latest addition to the Autosub family of automatonlike submerged vehicles develop here in Southampton , ” said Professor Russell Wynn from the NOC , theAttenboroughand Boaty ’s base , in astatement . “ The Autosubs have a proven caterpillar tread record of pioneering science missions , include under ice and to the abstruse parts of the sea . ”
This will be the first time an self-governing robot submarine has attempted to foil the basin fully submerged under the methamphetamine hydrochloride , as none antecedently has had the endurance to attempt the 2,500 - kilometer ( 1,500 miles ) journey . The team behind the project is aware of the gamey peril but are confident it will succeed .
“ There could well be some dramas ahead for those masses who plan to follow Boaty on his mission . We do occasionally lose our vehicles , and they can get caught in sportfishing nets from prison term to time , ” Professor Wynn told theBBC .
“ But this is what we do . These vehicles are like the Mars rovers of the ocean which we send out into uncongenial places to get their data that they then send back to us via planet . And , yes , we are quite likely to have some highs and some Sir David Alexander Cecil Low . ”
Boaty McBoatface out for testing in the Solent . NOC
capable to reach depth of 19,700 foot ( 6,000 meters ) , Boaty is to be capable to go further than any robot sub , maneuver for month on conclusion without deliver to be recall and recharged , which opens up fantastic chance for scientist and researchers . Exploring the polar regions has postulate the ontogeny of some smart Modern technology for the sub , too .
ineffective to use GPS location trailing due to the thick sea chicken feed , or a plain erstwhile compass due to the poles , the squad are plan to “ teach ” Boaty to understand maps .
“ You give it a map of the seabed in its brain and then as it travels it utilize asdic to collect data that it can compare with the store mapping . This should tell it where it is , ” Wynn explained . “ It ’s a neat concept but it ’s never been tested over K of km before . ”
ThePolar Explorer Programmewas set up in 2014 after a £ 200 million investment from the UK government to enable world - leading enquiry into the Arctic and Antarctica and inspire the next coevals of scientist and engineers , as well as heighten the understanding of STEM concepts among younger people . In their words , they aim to “ produce your inner explorer ” .
Until theRRS David Attenboroughis quick to set sail in 2018 , Boaty has a few foreign mission to tackle in preparation . In March next year it will be exploring the Southern Ocean in Antarctica , collecting data on bottom urine stream . Then , later in the yr , it will be fitted with acoustical and chemical sensors and sent into the North Sea to “ whiff out ” signals of throttle released beneath the ocean floor .
We do n’t know about you , but we ’re unquestionably go to be maintain watch on the footling submarine that could .
The hoagy , affectionately known just as Boaty , is raring to go . NOC
