Being able to snag the gelatinous or otherwise soft creatures of the deep ocean for study without harming them in the process provides researchers with a bit of challenge, a challenge Harvard's Wyss Institute may have overcome.
The new RAD sampler (RAD stands for rotary-actuated device) is an origami-style robotic claw-like machine that can track down the deep-sea creatures and close around them to create something like a globe that fully encapsulates and then releases the creature without harm.
The device has been tested of depths between 1,600 and 2,300 feet while researchers plan to build a more heavy-duty version for rougher tests. Researchers also plan to eventually add cameras and sensors that will enable the device to collect data on the creature before release.
