InVADER: In situ Vent Analysis Divebot for Exobiology Research
Inferno Summit: Actively venting ’chimlets’ atop the hydrothermal edifice called Inferno in the ASHES Hydrothermal Field on the summit of Axial Seamount (~1500 m water depth). Image: InVADER Mission Website, Credit. D. Kelley, University of Washington/NSF-OOI/WHOI..InVADER Mission
InVADER (In situ Vent Analysis Divebot for Exobiology Research) is an innovative deep-sea mission designed to bring the laboratory directly to hydrothermal vent sites. In the InVADER mission concept, an autonomous divebot carries a compact laser-based sensor suite, featuring Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, to rapidly analyze mineral composition, organic compounds, and biodiversity in situ, eliminating the need to collect physical samples and send them back to shore-based labs. In its initial field deployment during the spring of 2023, the system was tested at depths exceeding 1,500 meters near remote reef systems, successfully generating high-fidelity compositional maps while the divebot remained in motion. Developed through a multi-institutional collaboration that includes the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the SETI Institute, the University of Washington, and others, the mission demonstrates a powerful proof‑of‑concept for rapid, non-destructive oceanographic exploration on Earth and, potentially, for future missions to the icy ocean worlds of Europa and Enceladus.
Roles:
Feb 2020–Sep 2021: Postdoctoral Scholar @ NASA JPL
- Designed software for simulation of the shape & growth of black smoker hydrothermal vent chimneys using a temporal mathematical model.
- Generated a detailed 3D mesh reconstruction using shape-from-motion software of the Inferno vent chimney from dive videos taken at the ASHES vent field in the Axial volcano of the Juan de Fuca Ridge.
- Built ROS-based simulation of the InVADER in-situ articulated vision platform for planning future experimental data gathering at said vent sites.
- Developed a simulated Raman spectrometer as well as integrating all of the above components in order to test data gathering capabilities in advance of field experiments.
Videos
Looking for Life at the Bottom of the Ocean - InVADER Mission
Video: SETI Institute YouTube Channel. Credit: Pablo Sobron, SETI Institute.
Using Autonomous Robots to Investigate Hydrothermal Vents - InVADER Mission
Video: SETI Institute YouTube Channel. Credit: Renaud Detry, NASA JPL/Caltech; SETI Institute.
