A Water Quality Monitoring Robot

The electronics package for a new Water Quality Monitoring system is described. Designed for use in rivers, lakes and estuaries, this versatile automaton can replace costly manual methods with automated in situ measurements and water samples. Eight selectable sensors and a 16 cell water sampler are programmable for unattended operation. Underwater communications to a surface Control Station permit collection of data and rescheduling of measurements without the need to retrieve the submerged Buoy. The automated in situ measurements provided by this robot-like system can provide early warnings of water pollution, quantitative results for regulatory action and capabilities for scientific studies heretofore unavailable.