Marine Robotics and Digital Technologies: Applications for Science, Industry and Conservation

Marine robotics connects engineering capabilities with tasks that require movement, observation and decision-making in aquatic environments. This working paper examines selected Brazilian developments through the relationships between mission requirements, vehicle design, sensing, control and the interpretation of collected information. Its central question concerns the conditions under which robotic and digital capabilities become reliable tools for scientific investigation, industrial inspection and environmental research. Particular attention is given to the Pirajuba autonomous underwater vehicle and the collaborative development of FlatFish. These examples provide distinct perspectives on adapting research platforms and designing systems for repeated inspection. The analysis distinguishes design objectives, experimental demonstrations and sustained operational performance, preserving the evidential boundaries of each. Digital technologies are considered through their roles in navigation, data processing, mapping and human supervision. Environmental benefits remain outcomes requiring evaluation, rather than consequences assumed from automation. The paper proposes that useful autonomy depends on the relationship between a defined task, validated performance and appropriate operational support. Brazil’s contribution is examined through identifiable research activities and international collaboration, without treating individual projects as representative of an entire national sector. The resulting framework connects technological development with scientific usefulness, institutional capability and responsibility for the consequences of deployment.