Mission

OUR UUV
The NAUTILUS team is developing ARIS’s first Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV), an autonomous glider with the goal of flexibly facilitating the collection of crucial data for polar research. By doing so, NAUTILUS aims to help researchers unlock an understanding of how climate change is transforming our world.

CLIMATE RESEARCH
Climate change poses a major threat to our world’s ecosystems. Therefore, NAUTILUS seeks to create a cost-effective and minimally invasive method of polar research through the development of its UUV. Through the facilitation of polar research, the NAUTILUS team hopes to promote the protection of the polar regions and make a meaningful contribution to climate research.

Above: NAUTILUS’s UUV Prototype

Glider Technology for Polar Research

Hover over the icons to see how glider technology offers several advantages over traditional research vessels when studying the polar regions.

Cost-effective

Lower operational costs and smaller crew requirements make gliders more cost-effective

Non-invasive

No air and noise pollution make gliders a non-invasive platform for research by minimising damage to the environment

Long endurance

Continuous data collection for extended periods of time makes gliders ideal for monitoring large areas of the polar regions

Progress of Glider Development

Proof of Concept Prototype 100%

Concept Development of Advanced Prototype 100%

Subsystem Development and Integration 50%

Advanced Prototype Testing and Evaluation 0%

Timeline & Milestones

First Pool Test

The first pool test showed that our glider design held up well in water and that there were no leaks. The buoyancy check was successful and we were able to test the basic software functionalities, which were all working as intended. However, we did experience some issues with the wing, which prevented us from achieving a smooth stroke during the test.

Second Pool Test

Our second pool test provided us with the first opportunity to observe our glider’s performance over an extended period of time in water at a temperature similar to that of the polar regions. We were also able to fix previous issues and identify new points of improvement for our glider design.

Greifensee Test

Our first lake test at the Greifensee served as a proof of concept for our prototype glider and allowed us to validate critical components of the UUV, particularly the new propulsion system. The test also laid the foundation for enhancing, improving and rethinking our glider design during our Iterative Refinement phase.

Advanced Prototype Tests

Based on our previous observations, we will develop and produce an advanced prototype. This prototype will go through comprehensive testing to ensure our glider’s readiness for polar missions.

Our Team

Our team of passionate nerds is on a mission to save the planet, one glider at a time. If you’re a talented and motivated individual who wants to join us in our quest for environmental justice, then we want you! You’ll be part of a fun and dynamic team that’s always pushing the boundaries of technology and science, while also making a positive impact on our world. So come join NAUTILUS and let’s make a difference together!

Meet the Team!

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