Lifeguards may one day receive real-time information about the sharks lurking near California beaches.

California State University Long Beach’s Shark Lab is patrolling local waters for sharks with the help of its new semi-autonomous shark surveillance robot. The robot is still a prototype, CSULB Shark Lab Director Christopher Lowe said, but could one day provide helpful information to lifeguards, who can advise beachgoers to avoid the water. The Shark Lab is calling the robot the “future of shark monitoring.”

“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,” Lowe said.

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the "future of shark monitoring." (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the “future of shark monitoring.” (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the "future of shark monitoring." (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the “future of shark monitoring.” (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the "future of shark monitoring." (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the “future of shark monitoring.” (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the "future of shark monitoring." (CSULB)

CSULB is testing out an aquatic drone that it calls the “future of shark monitoring.” (CSULB)

Once the drone is properly equipped, the CSULB Shark Lab plans to patrol specific beaches for a week at a time while sending lifeguards real-time data. The device will listen for tagged great white sharks and test the water for shark environmental DNA, genetic identifiers found in shed skin, scales, blood and excrement.

The robot will also have an aerial drone nesting on its back to provide a birds-eye view of the water. When complete, the shark-detecting robot will stream the data and 360 video back to the CSULB Shark Lab through Wi-Fi. 

The project was funded by the Seaver Institute in collaboration with the New York University Center of Robotics and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

“Lots of research and development still needed,” the CSULB Shark Lab said. “But we’re off to a great start.”

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