INTRODUCING THE MODULAR AUTONOMOUS BIOSAMPLER (MAB): DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL MULTI-PLATFORM SYSTEM FOR HIGH SAMPLE DISCRETE SIZE-CLASS BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING

Arthur C Trembanis1, Craig Cary2, Don Clarke3, Tristan Crees3 and Eric Jackson4, (1)University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy, Newark, DE, United States, (2)University of Waikato, International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, Hamilton, New Zealand, (3)Cellula Robotics, Burnaby, BC, Canada, (4)Cellula Robotics Ltd., Burnaby, BC, Canada
Abstract:
Currently, there is a serious community-wide deficiency in our ability to collect and preserve biological samples across a broad spectrum of oceanographic platforms (e.g. AUVs, Gliders, ROVs, Autonomous Surface Vehicles, and Ocean Observing System Nodes). This is particularly surprising in comparison to the level of instrumentation that now exists for acquiring physical and geophysical data (e.g. side-scan sonar, current profilers, etc.) from these same platforms. What is clearly needed is a single system that can be easily adapted to multiple platforms servicing a broad range of applications across the biological oceanographic community. The unit should be able to operate autonomously, and collect large numbers of discrete samples from multiple size classes that are preserved in situ for later analysis.

We present the results of an ongoing 3-year development program
aimed at building and fielding a low-cost, high-sample-capacity modular, autonomous biological
sampling device. The presentation will focus on the development of a
standalone unit (6000 m depth
rated). The unit is capable of filtering and preserving multiple size-classes simultaneously, and is deployable from a variety of platform modalities (ROV, mooring, observatory node) (Figure 1). The R&D effort has involved extensive design analysis and testing of the system including benchtop and laboratory testing with three distinct size class microbeads (magnetic and non-magnetic) for analysis via flow cytometry and microscope visualization.

We will address the specific design criteria that has guided the MAB development including: 1) The ability to collect 200 samples in each of any 3 size classes (600 total) including bacteria (<0.2μm); 2) The isolation and preservation of each individual sample in a fixative conducive to standard biological systematics and genetic analyses;
3) The ability to sterilize the water flow path between each sample;
4) The ability to detect and react to filter clogging
5) The development of an environmental sensor module that will enable integrated “smart” sampling on the moorable unit.

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