UNIL/DMF
Expert in microbial adaptation and bacterial  
biosensors
Jan van der Meer
UNIL
Envirobot
Developing an aquatic robot which can 'smell' polluting substances, using integrated biological and chemical sensors
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UNIL/Centre
Expert in genetics and evolution of insect and plant development
Richard Benton
UNIL
HESSO-VS/SI
Expert in optical sensors and electronic  
systems
Martial Geiser
HESSO-VS
EPFL/SB/ISIC/LEPA
Expert in electrochemistry and biosensors
Hubert Girault
EPFL
EPFL/STI/IBI/BIOROB
Expert in articulated and biologically inspired robotics, modular robotics, humanoid robotics
Auke Jan Ijspeert
EPFL
EPFL/STI/IMT/LMIS4
Expert in Implanted force sensor, MEMS, Fluidics, Microfabrication
Philippe Renaud
EPFL
EAWAG/Environmental
Expert in molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity in vertebrate cells
Kristin Schirmer
EAWAG

Project Description

Envirobot is an ambitious high end project with the major aim to develop and construct a demonstrator robot platform (the Envirobot) that samples and measures a set of relevant water quality parameters in surface water bodies by the incorporation of optical, physical, chemical and biological sensors. The Envirobot platform will be based on existing segmented anguilliform Amphibots, but with important adaptations in terms of energy use and efficiency, sensory decision programming, and communication possibilities. The Envirobot is invented to perform autonomous surveying or autonavigation. In autonomous surveying the robot will sample and analyze water bodies according to a preset path and defined number of waypoints. 

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Our researchers in the media

Notable publications

Inkjet-printed microtiter plates for portable electrochemical immunoassays
M. Jovi?, Y. Zhu, A. Lesch, A. Bondarenko, F. Cortés-Salazar, F. Gumy, H. H. Girault


Cell culture-based biosensing techniques for detecting toxicity in water
Lu Tan and Kristin Schirmer


Evolution of Acid-Sensing Olfactory Circuits in Drosophilids
Lucia L. Prieto-Godino, Raphael Rytz, Steeve Cruchet, Benoîte Bargeton, Liliane Abuin, Ana F. Silbering, Vanessa Ruta, Matteo Dal Peraro and Richard Benton
Neuron (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.12.024

Environmental Monitoring using Autonomous Vehicles: A Survey of Searching Techniques
Behzad Bayat, Naveena Crasta, Alessandro Crespi, António Pascoal, Auke Ijspeert
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2017, 45:76-84


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Posters from 2016


Sensors integration in Envirobot locomotion segment
Oliver Gubler, Frederic Truffer, Marc Pignat, Alessandro Crespi, Martial Geiser

Flexible pH sensor based on layer-by-layer assembled iridium oxide nanoparticles
Milica Jovic, Jonnathan C. Hidalgo-Acosta, Hubert H. Girault

Fish cell-based biosensor for evaluating water quality
Vivian Lu Tan, Florent Boudoire, Artur Braun, Kristin Schirmer

Microfluidic chips to measure bacterial chemotaxis in a biosensory perspective
Clémence Roggo, Jan Roelof van der Meer


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Posters from 2015


Development of pH sensor by inkjet printing or layer-by-layer deposition of IrOx nanoparticles
Milica Jovic, Fernando Cortés-Salazar, Jonnathan Cesar Hidalgo Acosta, Géraldine Margaretha Alice Stauffer, Andreas Lesch, Hubert H. Girault

A microfluidic tool to use bacterial chemotaxis for biosensing
Clémence Roggo, Jan Roelof van der Meer

Water quality assessment sensor integration into swimming robot
Frederic Truffer, Oliver Gubler, Helene Strese, Thierry Hischier, Serge Amoos, Martial Geiser

Environmental Monitoring of Mercury using Bacterial Bioreporter Microchips
Milica Jovic, Fernando Cortés-Salazar, Siham Beggah, Géraldine Margaretha Alice Stauffer, Alexandra Bondarenko, Andreas Lesch, Jan Roelof van der Meer, Hubert H. Girault

Posters from 2014


Development of microfluidic devices to measure the bacterial chemotaxis response
Clémence Roggo, Jan Roelof van der Meer

Xenopus Laevis oocyte based Biosensors
David Bonzon, Benoîte Bargeton, Giovanna Zappia, Richard Benton, Philippe Renaud

Envirobot monitoring of turbidity, heavy metals and conductivity: Integration and testing
Fernando Cortés Salazar, Frederic Truffer, Yannick Morel, Helene Strese, Thierry Hischier, Alessandro Crespi, Martial Geiser, Auke Ijspeert and Hubert H. Girault.

Inkjet Printing of Carbon Nanotubes Electrodes for Environmental Monitoring
Fernando Cortés Salazar, Andreas Lesch, Alexandra Bondarenko, Hubert H. Girault

    

Project Photos