Environmental aspects

As far as surface vehicles are concerned, the small size of the robots and their relative rarity limit their environmental footprint (air pollution, noise pollution, etc.), especially as some autonomous surface vehicles rely exclusively on wind and sun as energy sources. Water pollution is low or non-existent (no discharges and non-systematic use of antifouling paints). The environmental impact of underwater robots is even more limited, if we exclude the accompanying vessel and the energy source used to recharge the batteries. By definition, underwater robots are totally watertight and have no exchange with the outside environment, unless they are fitted with a ballast tank. They are electrically powered, which limits noise pollution (in the case of gliders, almost no sound is emitted). Apart from defending a territory (rare cases of shark, swordfish, conger eel attacks, etc.), experience...