Full Breakdown
California Scientists Build Solar-Powered Shark-Surveillance Robot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
7/31/2026, 3:59:39 AM
New Robot Aimed at Protecting Olympic Swimmers
Researchers at California State University Long Beach’s Shark Lab are constructing a solar-powered vessel roughly 10 feet long that can patrol coastal waters for up to a week at a time. The platform will listen for acoustically tagged white sharks, collect water samples for DNA analysis, and launch an aerial drone to locate tagged animals. Its data will be streamed in real time to lifeguards at beaches slated for Olympic events, including the open-water swim in Long Beach harbor and the surfing competition in Orange County.
Development, Capabilities, and Operational Goals
The robot integrates tools already used by the Shark Lab, such as underwater listening stations and aerial drones, into a single autonomous system. By identifying the species and number of sharks present, the device is intended to help officials decide when to issue warnings or close water areas, rather than sounding alarms for every shark sighting. Researchers have already tagged hundreds of juvenile great white sharks along the California coast, providing the acoustic signatures the robot relies on.
Funding Challenges and Long-Term Plans
State funding that enabled the robot’s construction is slated to expire this fall, a timeline that could force the lab to scale back its monitoring program. “It won’t work if we don’t have tagged sharks out there, so we got to keep tagging sharks,” the lab’s director warned, noting that continued tagging is essential for the robot’s effectiveness. While the 2028 Games provide a clear deadline for deployment, the team plans to keep the system operational beyond the Olympics.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are going to have athletes swimming in Long Beach harbor, where we know there has been white sharks before,” — Chris Lowe, shark lab director
- “Our data suggests that there are sharks around our beaches all the time without incident, but knowing what sharks, and how many are out there help lifeguards make better decisions in beach safety operations and in advising the public,” — Chris Lowe, shark lab director
- “CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "It won’t work if we don’t have tagged sharks out there, so we got to keep tagging sharks," Lowe said.” — Chris Lowe, shark lab director
