Singapore has begun to utilize robotic swans to assess raw water quality at various reservoirs scattered about the city-state.
The five robots are designed to resemble swans to they may blend into the natural environments they service. These new devices comprise the Smart Water Assessment Network (SWAN), an initiative geared towards the improvement of raw water quality and obtaining a better understanding of reservoir health.
The robots were commissioned by Singapore’s national water agency PUB, the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Environmental Research Institute and the Tropical Marine Science Institute.
When sampling the waters of the various reservoirs, the swans will monitor for pH levels, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and chlorophyll. Such readings will grant the scientists invaluable insights into the health of the subject waters.
Development of the robots began in 2010, with the first tests being executed in 2014. Final rounds of testing occurred in 2016, and the organizations feel they are now ready to be utilized.
The reservoirs where the swans will be deployed include the newer Marina, Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs, as well as the older Kranji and Pandan reservoirs due to their higher rates of algae growth.
