Talking Robots: Uwe Zimmer - Underwater robotics

In this episode of Talking Robots, Markus Weibel interviews Uwe Zimmer, a researcher and robot designer, about underwater robotics. Zimmer discusses the challenges of underwater sensing and the limitations of traditional sensors, highlighting the need for distributed, synchronized sensing systems. He introduces the Serafina project, which focuses on developing autonomous submarine swarms, and explains how these swarms can be controlled without direct operator intervention. Zimmer also touches on the potential applications of underwater robots, the importance of communication systems, and the need for greater autonomy in underwater robotics. He predicts that while domestic robots may not see significant advancements in the next 20 years, robotics will continue to evolve in specialized fields and remote environments. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the technological advancements needed, particularly in energy sources, to further the field of robotics.