Three robotic arms reached out beneath the surface of a Canadian lake, carefully picking up pebbles from the lakebed before placing them back into the machine.This activity was part of a series of evaluations the robot was undergoing prior to its anticipated deployment in the ocean, where its operators aspire for the machine to revolutionize the search for the most coveted metals in the world.The robot was developed by Impossible Metals, a company established in California in 2020, which claims to be working on technology that enables the harvesting of the seabed with minimal ecological impact.Traditional underwater harvesting methods involve collecting vast quantities of material in pursuit of potato-sized objects known as poly-metallic nodules.These nodules are rich in nickel, copper, cobalt, and other essential metals required for electric vehicle batteries, among various other important products.Jason Gillham, co-founder of Impossible Metals, informed AFP that his company’s robot seeks out the nodules “in a selective manner.”The prototype, currently being tested in Ontario, remains stationary in the water, hovering above the bottom of the lake.In a laboratory setting, company personnel observe the yellow robot on screens, utilizing what resembles a video game console to guide its movements. Employing lights, cameras, and artificial intelligence, the robot endeavors to locate the desired nodules while ensuring that aquatic life—such as octopus eggs, coral, or sponges—remains undisturbed.
