Into the Blue: Underwater Robots Unveil the Secrets of Norfolk Island’s Deep

University of Sydney joins the Australian Museum expedition to map reefs, document species, and inspire the next generation of marine scientists.By Kiah NanavatiJune 11, 2025Environment 6 Mins Read

Photo credits: Stefan WilliamsShare

In the inky depths surrounding Norfolk Island , a team of cutting-edge robots has begun a journey to reveal the hidden wonders of one of the Pacific’s most remote marine frontiers.

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) developed by the University of Sydney are now gliding through the cool, dark waters off this volcanic island as part of a major scientific expedition led by the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI). Their mission: to map never-before-seen reefs, document rare marine life, and offer insights into how climate change is transforming the ocean floor.

“The eyes, hands, and ears of scientists”

These AUVs, which resemble sleek torpedoes outfitted with technology more commonly found on spacecraft, are the robotic explorers of the modern age. Led by Professor Stefan Williams at the University’s Australian Centre for Robotics (ACFR), the vehicles are collecting high-resolution images of the seafloor, soon to be transformed into vivid, three-dimensional maps.

“It’s the first time that parts of the seabed in the Norfolk Ridge will be imaged in this detail,” said Professor Williams, a Professor of Marine Robotics at the University of Sydney. “The AUV’s visual and acoustic sensors will gather data to generate high resolution 3D models of the seabed and marine habitat. We’re excited to support the expedition and see what our environmental survey of the area will uncover.”

The robots are equipped with stereo cameras and navigation sensors that allow them to autonomously traverse thousands of square metres of seafloor, capturing tens of thousands of images at targeted sites. This data will provide unprecedented insights into benthic species — organisms that dwell on the ocean floor — some of which may be entirely new to science.

By incorporating machine learning techniques, the team will also classify species and flag any unusual or ecologically significant discoveries. As Professor Williams notes, these underwater robots act as “the hands, eyes and ears of scientists” in deep-sea environments that are simply inaccessible to divers.

A collaborative deep dive

The expedition is the second phase of the Norfolk Island Biodiversity Survey and builds on the work of AMRI scientists who conducted a terrestrial survey across the island in 2022–2023. That earlier mission uncovered everything from bats and lizards to ancient Polynesian artefacts — including two adzes and hundreds of flakes dating back to pre-European settlement.

This time, the focus is on the ocean. The expedition is a collaboration between the University of Sydney, the Australian Museum, Parks Australia, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Importantly, it is also working closely with the Norfolk Island community.

Norfolk Island, located 1,600 kilometres northeast of Sydney in the Tasman Sea an external Australian territory between Aotearoa, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Its unique position makes it a crucial “stepping stone” for marine life migrating between tropical and temperate zones.

“Norfolk Island is a key oceanic stepping stone for species between tropical New Caledonia and temperate New Zealand, making it an important bellwether location for detecting species movements and climate change effects,” said Professor Shane Ahyong, Acting Chief Scientist of the AMRI.

“There is a huge amount of value in bringing together scientists from different research institutions to focus on a specific location of scientific significance, like Norfolk Island,” he added. “In this return trip, the team will build on the knowledge we developed during the Norfolk Island Terrestrial Biodiversity Survey and the archaeological excavations that took place in 2022.”

From coral to classrooms

The expedition combines high-tech science with hands-on exploration. While the robots roam the depths, researchers are also conducting shore- and vessel-based sampling of marine life including fish, corals, molluscs, crabs and algae. All samples will contribute to expanding scientific collections in both Australia and New Zealand.

But it’s not just scientists who are benefiting from the expedition. A dedicated education team is working with students at Norfolk Island Central School to foster curiosity and connection with the ocean that surrounds them.

“Scientific expeditions of this scale are pivotal to the continued monitoring, protection and understanding of diverse and isolated bioregions, like Norfolk Island, which are particularly vulnerable,” said Kim McKay AO, Director and CEO of the Australian Museum.

“For nearly two centuries, the Australian Museum has conducted expeditions to document, collect and examine information on the habitats of our region and beyond. From this we have developed one of the most valuable natural science collections in the world, which aids in international research and will be conserved for generations to come.

“This second expedition to Norfolk Island will focus on the marine environments native to the area and introduce fauna and flora, and will help to expand existing scientific records and collections, informing the future management of these regions.”

Filling the knowledge gap

Dr Tom Trnski, Head of Natural Sciences at Auckland Museum, emphasised how vital this research is to understanding regional biodiversity.

“This expedition has been a priority for the Australian, Auckland and Te Papa museums as Norfolk Island is a major gap in our knowledge,” he said. “This is an important opportunity to document the marine biodiversity in the southwest Pacific region so we can support the understanding of the biodiversity connections among the islands in the region and help predict dispersal pathways in a changing ocean environment.”

The ACFR’s track record in ocean exploration is impressive. Their AUVs have previously been deployed on archaeological surveys in Greece, helping to uncover a 2,000-year-old skeleton in a shipwreck — proof that robotics are transforming not only biology but also history and archaeology.

Revealing the ocean’s living mosaic

The preliminary results of the expedition are already promising. High-resolution footage captured by the AUVs shows vibrant coral ecosystems and stunning mosaics of the seabed — images that will soon be stitched into large-scale digital maps to guide future research.

As the robots continue their silent patrols beneath the waves, their data will enrich our understanding of how climate change, human activity, and natural evolution are shaping the oceans.

From unearthing ancient tools on land to discovering new species beneath the sea, Norfolk Island has proven to be a treasure trove of natural and cultural knowledge. And thanks to the combined efforts of scientists, educators, and robotic pioneers, its mysteries are beginning to surface.