The high cost of underwater sensors has fundamentally limited our ability to treat the ocean as a complex, evolving, three-dimensional environment. A technology whose price and simplicity make large arrays of profiling technology accessible could revolutionize underwater sensing. Specifically, underwater sound plays a critical role in the life cycles of many marine animals; yet, our understanding of spatial variations in these “soundscapes” remains incomplete. This is particularly true in the coastal ocean, where swathes of industrial activities and dynamic oceanographic forces produce rapidly evolving sites of interest in an environment that is critical for humans and animals alike, especially amidst climate change.

The acoustic microFloats team, based out of the University of Washington’s prestigious Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), combines Dr. Trevor Harrison’s innovative microFloat array technology with DAISY developer Dr. Brian Polagye’s hydrophone expertise to create aFloat. Led by Dr. Harrison, the aFloat team is developing cost-effective, volumetric acoustic profiling technology in a fast, flexible system with the capability to extend to a wide range of sensing capabilities. As the aFloat team refines their technology, they are focused on ensuring that the device addresses the key problems faced by industry leaders, academics, government officials, local communities, and citizens invested in our environment.