Between sea and shore, sun and wind, salt and sand, the RAMONES team have gathered in full assembly for the final demo trials in the volcanic island of Santorini in the second half of October.

The research team have optimized and deployed all technologies developed through the project timeline, paying attention to all critical details and fighting the harsh conditions being present inside the remote oceanic environment.

The main objective of the work was the deployment of the autonomous marine robotic instruments next to the fully loaded with other radiation-sensing and radiation-imaging instruments benthic laboratory. The team have deployed the RAMONES gliders inside the crater of the active underwater volcano Kolumbo, located 7 km NE from Santorini, as well as over the active hydrothermal vents inside the world-known Santorini caldera.

 

During these missions, the research team and collaborators from SITMA/Univ. Gran Canaria exhibited synergies of the robotic instruments with the surface sea vessel, performed measurements inside the large ocean water volume and the Kolumbo volcano, optimized communications and achieved most of the targeted objectives behind the project.

In addition, the RAMONES team had the opportunity to work with local authorities informing them of the innovative technology the team has developed, as well as offer training and education to high-schoolers who had the opportunity to see, touch and feel the RAMONES equipment, watch the teams during action and receive important knowledge for the solutions offered via novel technology and methods.