This project is based on the new paradigm of "flow as information", a groundbreaking approach for underwater sensing of multiscale flows in Nature. It will lead to new, optimized devices and methods to measure, classify and explore the underwater environment when traditional methods are too expensive or simply do not work. Flow as information is inspired by aquatic animals who have evolved advanced sensory systems which combine sensing and information processing into a single framework.
The proposal will advance TalTech's underwater sensing technologies from working prototypes (TRL3 to TRL5) to tests in relevant operational environments (TRL6), and support technology transfer to Estonian and international firms. These devices and methods will provide researchers, industry and authorities with new and reliable sources of flow data during extreme climate and weather events where conventional devices fail and when critical infrastructure is at risk, such as during storm surges and floods.