The Chemistry-Kayak, affectionately dubbed the "ChemYak," glided effortlessly across the Arctic estuary waters while Victoria Preston intently observed a monitor from a nearby vessel. Her eyes were fixed on the real-time data streaming from the robot's advanced sensors. After weeks of meticulous preparation, Preston and her research team had successfully deployed their innovative technology. With merely seven days available for on-site research, they maximized the extended summer daylight hours to gather thousands of critical observations regarding a theorized chemical anomaly linked to the annual ice-cover retreat phenomenon.
Navigating systematically through the waterway, the autonomous robotic explorer utilized its sophisticated chemical sensors to analyze the complex composition of the flowing water. The comprehensive measurements uncovered a brief yet substantial surge of greenhouse gases within the estuary during its annual "flushing" cycle, triggered by ice melting and withdrawal. This breakthrough achievement served as a powerful validation for Preston, demonstrating how cutting-edge robotic platforms could revolutionize environmental scientific understanding through unprecedented data collection methodologies.
Preston's connection to environmental stewardship began early in life, shaped by her childhood experiences near Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. This proximity to nature instilled in her a profound appreciation for conservation efforts and ignited her fascination with leveraging emerging technologies as powerful instruments for positive change. Her academic journey culminated in 2016 when she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Robotics Engineering from the prestigious Olin College of Engineering.
"My inaugural research endeavor focused on developing an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of collecting non-invasive blowhole samples from surfacing whales," Preston reflects. "A significant portion of our efforts involved implementing automatic detection systems, enabling the drone to autonomously locate and monitor whale blowholes. This project provided invaluable insights into the practical application of core robotics principles in real-world scenarios, setting the foundation for my future work in the field."
The innovative research conducted during her undergraduate studies motivated Preston to pursue a Fulbright scholarship, which facilitated a nine-month collaboration at the esteemed Center for Biorobotics in Tallinn, Estonia. During this international experience, she contributed to multiple groundbreaking robotics initiatives, including programming an autonomous underwater vehicle to create detailed maps of confined aquatic environments. "This opportunity was incredibly formative, significantly influencing my current research trajectory," she notes. "It solidified my determination to pursue graduate studies and continue the meaningful work I'm passionate about."
Upon completing her Fulbright program, Preston embarked on her doctoral journey, pursuing a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics alongside Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering through a prestigious joint program between MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Under the guidance of co-advisors Anna Michel and Nicholas Roy, she has explored both theoretical frameworks and experimental applications in her research. "Establishing a mentorship connection with a research scientist was tremendously important to me," Preston explains. "I was determined to ensure my scholarly contributions would effectively bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and engineering innovation."
"Fundamentally, I view robotic systems as powerful instruments that extend scientific capabilities," Preston articulates. "These intelligent machines venture into previously inaccessible environments, gathering crucial datasets that human researchers cannot obtain directly. Following this data collection, scientists then undertake the intellectually demanding task of analyzing this information to derive meaningful insights and address complex environmental challenges."
During the initial phase of her doctoral studies, Preston concentrated on developing methodologies for deploying autonomous robots in challenging environments and processing the information they gathered. Her innovative work involved creating sophisticated algorithms that empowered robots with self-navigation capabilities. "My primary objective was to develop systems that could leverage our existing environmental knowledge to design optimal data collection pathways," Preston explains. "This technological advancement enables robotic explorers to autonomously navigate toward and sample areas of particular scientific interest, dramatically improving research efficiency."
The enhancement of sampling methodologies provides significant advantages, particularly when research teams face time limitations or budgetary restrictions. Preston successfully deployed her robotic system in Massachusetts' Wareham River to identify dissolved methane and various greenhouse gases—substances resulting from both wastewater treatment processes and natural environmental phenomena. "Consider attempting to characterize a radiation seepage from the ground," Preston illustrates. "As the robotic explorer traverses the area, it detects subtle 'wafts' of radiation, enabling precise identification of contamination sources."
"Our sophisticated algorithm continuously recalculates, providing the robot with updated estimates of potential leak locations," Preston explains. "The autonomous system responds by navigating to these identified areas, gathering additional samples, and potentially pinpointing the most significant contamination source or root cause. Simultaneously, it constructs an interpretable model throughout the exploration process." This innovative methodology represents a revolutionary advancement in marine geochemical research efficiency, marking a significant departure from traditional approaches that relied on collecting random water samples for subsequent laboratory analysis.
In the current phase of her research, Preston is integrating a critical variable into her robotic systems: temporal dynamics. This enhancement will significantly improve multi-day exploration capabilities. "My earlier research operated under the assumption that environmental conditions remained static throughout the robot's mission—a premise that doesn't reflect reality, particularly in dynamic riverine ecosystems," she acknowledges. "We're now developing advanced modeling techniques to better understand and predict how these environments evolve over time, enabling our robotic systems to adapt accordingly."
This autumn, Preston will join an expedition aboard the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's research vessel, the Roger Revelle, heading to the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California. The interdisciplinary research team will deploy both remotely operated and fully autonomous underwater robots near the basin's floor to study hydrothermal plume dynamics within the water column. Collaborating closely with engineers from the National Deep Submergence Facility, alongside her MIT advisors and research colleagues, Preston will play a key role in orchestrating the deployment of these advanced robotic systems.
"I'm particularly excited about the opportunity to showcase our algorithmic innovations in a real-world setting," Preston enthuses. "Additionally, the prospect of collaborating with such an extensive, multidisciplinary team committed to pushing the boundaries of marine exploration is incredibly motivating."
As Preston approaches the completion of her fourth year of doctoral research, she is strategically planning her post-PhD trajectory. Her vision includes continuing her investigation of marine ecosystems and other environments significantly impacted by climate change. Motivated by the countless unanswered questions surrounding our oceans, she aspires to contribute to unraveling these mysteries through her expertise. Preston finds herself increasingly drawn to the emerging field of computational sustainability, a discipline founded on the principle that "machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related technologies must be harnessed to address our most urgent global challenges, with these challenges simultaneously reshaping our approach to technological development."
"We're experiencing an extraordinary moment in history for environmentally-conscious robotics specialists—and for scientists equipped with revolutionary research tools," Preston concludes. "While some might consider my perspective overly optimistic, I firmly believe we're standing at a transformative threshold for exploration and discovery, with unprecedented opportunities to advance our understanding of the natural world through technological innovation."
