Expedition goal: During this eight-day expedition aboard MBARI’s flagship research vessel David Packard, a team of MBARI engineers and scientists will explore Sur Ridge with innovative seafloor mapping technologies. CoMPAS Lab engineers will test new sensors and software for high-resolution mapping on the portable MiniROV. The data they gather will help scientists from the Benthic Biology and Ecology Team monitor the ecology of deep-sea corals, sponge ecosystems, and nesting octopus at this unique biological hotspot offshore of Central California.

Expedition dates: March 10–17, 2026

Ship: R/V David Packard

Location: Sur Ridge, offshore Central California

Research technology: MiniROV, Portable Mapping System (PoMS)

Chief scientist: Giancarlo Troni

The ocean exploration community urgently needs nimble, portable tools to measure and monitor ocean health. MBARI’s CoMPAS Lab develops scalable marine technology that can be easily modified for use across a wide variety of vehicles and platforms, aiming to make MBARI’s innovations more broadly accessible. Our open-source, scalable tools allow MBARI to share its expertise with other marine scientists.

A community of colorful yellow and pink branched corals grows on a rocky ledge on the deep seafloor. Between the large branched corals are smaller fan-like corals, round yellow sponges, and orange sea anemones. They are growing on an outcropping of greenish-black rock covered in brown encrusting organisms and fine brown sediment. In the background are more corals with endless black water on the horizon. — The rocky slopes of Sur Ridge teem with life, including corals and sponges that provide shelter for small fishes and invertebrates. Image: © 2025 MBARI

CoMPAS Lab engineers have outfitted MBARI’s MiniROV—a portable remotely operated vehicle—with advanced sensors and software to create 3D reconstructions and bathymetric maps of Sur Ridge, enhancing our understanding of the terrain and biological interactions in this rich ecosystem.

We will use our downward- and forward-looking mapping systems on the MiniROV for centimeter- and millimeter-resolution mapping. This work aligns with ongoing research conducted by MBARI’s Benthic Biology and Ecology Team, Deep-Sea Coral-Sponge Community Observatory project, and Seafloor Mapping Lab.

More About this Expedition

Expedition plans:

We plan to dedicate the first day to testing the mapping sensors. The next three to four days will focus on utilizing the mapping capabilities in coral and sponge communities. The final two to three days will concentrate on vertical mapping. Our last day will also include a test dive in Monterey Bay, near MBARI.

New technology milestones for this expedition:

Autonomous precision control of the MiniROV enables standard downward-looking surveys, as well as new vertical surveys using our forward-looking sensors.
Visual and sonar SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) drive precise, real-time navigation with the MiniROV.
The CoMPAS Lab’s own laser-scanning mapping system, in addition to our high-resolution mapping using cameras and sonar, creates millimeter-resolution reconstruction of 3D structures.
AI-based object detection enhances the system’s capabilities.