Australian engineer Robert Ross of La Trobe University has created the underground robot Gopher to explore wombat burrows. The device has now been sent to eastern Turkey, where an international team of researchers is studying a geological formation that some associate with the biblical Noah's Ark.
The robot is operating at the Durupinar formation near Mount Ararat. There the team has begun drilling and collecting soil samples from the boat-shaped formation. Proponents of the idea believe it could be the vessel described in the Book of Genesis, although there is no scientific confirmation.
Gopher is a lightweight remotely controlled device with waterproof wide-angle cameras at the front and rear, as well as environmental sensors. It collects data where it is difficult for humans to work, at depths of up to 25 meters. The robot left Australia at the end of July; it is a scaled-down version of the WomBot device, first created in 2021.
Ross, an associate professor of electronic engineering, said cooperation with the organization Noah's Ark Discovery began nine months ago when he read a news item calling for a robot to explore the area. According to him, this could become the archaeological discovery of the century, but it is also important that the technology helps scientists better understand what is at the site.
Claims about the existence of Noah's Ark remain highly controversial. Nevertheless, the project has attracted global public attention and has become an unusual example of Australian technology being used in international archaeological research.
According to Ross, in the future the robot could be useful for detecting wild animals or other archaeological finds. Edward Szall, head of production at Noah's Ark Discovery, is in contact with Ross and reports on the progress of the work, which may be complicated by harsh winter conditions with temperatures well below zero. He thanked the engineer and the university for their contribution of time and resources and expressed hope for cooperation in the next season.
Creating a scaled-down version for such research was not difficult: Ross had previously 3D-printed a similar model to study armadillo burrows in South America. Although the search for the ark may be WomBot's most unusual mission, the robot is still in demand among conservation organizations in Australia for wildlife preservation and burrow mapping.