Impossible Metals tests AI robot for selective deep-sea mining

US startup Impossible Metals has successfully completed a scientific dive in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, using its Eureka Collection System to selectively harvest polymetallic nodules at depths exceeding 4,000 meters. This marks the first time a fully autonomous underwater robot has performed selective recovery of these minerals.

Unlike traditional mining methods that use vacuum-like machines to scrape the seabed and require riser pipes for transport, the Eureka system hovers above the ocean floor using a buoyancy engine. This approach avoids direct contact with the seabed and eliminates the need for riser pipes and wastewater discharge, addressing environmental concerns regarding habitat destruction. The robot utilizes computer vision to identify biological life on nodules, leaving those with visible fauna in place while using robotic arms to collect only the remaining minerals.

The test recovered approximately 450 grams of nodules for research by Viridian Biometals. The company, which has received backing from Y Combinator and In-Q-Tel, plans to scale the technology and is exploring potential cooperation with Japanese firms for mineral development near Japan. A larger version, Eureka III, is scheduled for environmental impact testing in 2027.