Lance-A-Lot

Lance-A-Lot was developed at our Institute and is not just a single device but rather several devices. It is essentially an observation station that is placed on the seafloor which operates autonomously from there. The system, which weighs around 600 kg and is roughly the size of a small car, was developed in order to help our scientists better understand the dynamic interaction of currents, sediment transport, and (microbial) exchange processes at the bottom of the oceans. For example, Lance-A-Lot can simultaneously measure the flow velocity, the shape of the floor, and the oxygen levels in the sand.

Lance-A-Lot comes in three different sizes. The larger versions are launched by research vessels such as the FS Heincke; the smaller ones can also be used by divers. However, the basic principle is the same for all versions. The devices consist of a metal frame that can be set down on the seafloor. On this frame are rails for a carriage, which serves as a support for various devices such as sensor lances for measuring oxygen, a laser for scanning the shape of the floor, an underwater camera, and probes for measuring salinity and current velocities.

Lance-A-Lot operates autonomously on the seafloor and does not need to be connected to the research vessel. The carriage with the sensor lance always moves forward a small distance between measurements. For the individual measurements, the sensor lance is slowly driven into the seafloor and out again.

Meanwhile, the laser scans the seafloor as can be seen in the video under “Lance-A-Lot in action”. The laser emits a red line that adapts to the respective floor structure. This data can then be used to create a 3D map of the subsurface. The images from the camera on the device are used to analyse sources of error in the evaluation and observe the various aquatic creates such as starfish, flatfish, sea urchins, and hermit crabs.

Lance-A-Lot is not a static system and is constantly being further developed and adapted in order to meet the various requirements of the scientists.

It is mainly used by scientists of the Department of Biogeochemistry. However, it is also open to all other scientists of the institute as well as to external researchers in the context of collaborative projects.