New autonomous reef robot follows shrimp snaps and fish calls to map marine life zones

Researchers built CUREE, an autonomous underwater robot that combines cameras, hydrophones, and onboard computing to map coral reef biodiversity in real time.

The robot can follow biological sounds, such as snapping shrimp and fish activity, then confirm hotspots with visual data while tracking signals from up to 80 meters away.

In U.S. Virgin Islands field tests, CUREE identified a major biodiversity hotspot near Joel’s Shoal, where fish density was much higher than in nearby areas.

The system could make reef monitoring safer, faster, and more continuous, helping conservation teams decide where protection efforts are most needed.