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No Hands

Trevor Harrison takes a spin in a kayak outfitted as an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). A team consisting of Trevor, Peter Kimball, Peter Traykovski, John Bailey, Clay Kunz, and Hanu Singh are developing the vehicle to do precision oceanographic work in very shallow waters. Traykovski in particular is interested in measuring sand ripples in water depths of six inches to two feet and has experienced the difficulties of doing so manually. The team eventually hopes to program the ASV to leave from and return to a dock or a beach and travel anywhere in a 100 mile radius, navigating shipping channels, obeying coast guard regulations, and working in fog and darkness, and in the presence of strong currents.(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)