15-Year-Old Builds Turtle‑Like AI Robot To Monitor Coral Health — Wins EU Young Scientists Prize

Ontario Teen Develops Turtle‑Like Underwater Robot to Monitor Coral Ecosystems

Fifteen-year-old Evan Budz of Ontario has designed an underwater bionic monitor that closely resembles — and swims like — a sea turtle. The 10th-grade student has earned international recognition, including a first-place prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, for a device intended to survey coral health while minimizing disturbance to marine life.

"Aquatic habitats are vital to humanity, and routine surveying of these environments has become critical," Budz said in a posted YouTube clip.

Conventional monitoring equipment can generate strong currents and noise that stress marine animals and damage fragile ecosystems. Budz’s design deliberately mimics green turtle locomotion to offer a low‑impact alternative. Published images show a craft that looks strikingly like a turtle but contains sophisticated systems — including artificial intelligence, advanced ballast controls, waterproof cameras and precision servos — that let it patrol predetermined routes and collect environmental data autonomously, Youth Science Canada (YSC) reports.

To refine the robot’s motion and behavior, Budz consulted experts at Ripley’s Aquarium. The project integrates high‑tech components to blend biomimicry with practical monitoring capabilities: AI navigation for autonomous missions, buoyancy and ballast mechanisms for depth control, and sensors and cameras for visual and environmental data collection.

"Evan's success … shows that his project is truly world class — a remarkable innovation that showcases the ability of Canadian youth to tackle complex technical and environmental challenges," said Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Canada, in comments shared with CBC.

Rising ocean temperatures pose a major threat to marine ecosystems. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates the oceans absorb about 91% of the planet’s excess heat, contributing to coral bleaching, glacier melt and other climate impacts. As reefs suffer, researchers pursue conservation strategies — including relocation and ex situ preservation projects — to protect vulnerable species.

Budz says he was inspired to develop the robot after watching a sea turtle while on a camping trip. YSC says the system will undergo more rigorous testing and expanded trials, with future tasks expected to include water sampling, more extensive autonomous monitoring, and deployment in diverse reef environments.

Next steps: The project now moves into field validation under tougher conditions, where engineers and marine scientists will evaluate durability, data quality and the robot’s ability to operate without disturbing wildlife.

Significance: If successful at scale, biomimetic monitoring platforms like Budz’s turtle robot could provide researchers and conservationists with continuous, low‑impact observation tools to better track reef health and respond to environmental threats.