Kapslarpod

Kapslarpod is a capsule-shaped autonomous platform designed for field data collection and environmental monitoring. It is built as a modular system with a sealed capsule housing a detachable sensor pod and power module. Configurations vary for air, water, or ground operation, enabling missions ranging from sampling to imaging.

Core components typically include propulsion or buoyancy control, an onboard computer, and a sensor payload interface. Common sensors cover air and water quality, temperature, humidity, cameras, and acoustics. Power is supplied by rechargeable batteries, with endurance from several hours to a day, depending on payload and mission. Data can be stored locally and transmitted via radio, cellular, or satellite links when connectivity is available.

Navigation relies on GPS and inertial measurement units in open environments; in GPS-denied areas, SLAM and beacon navigation may be used. Autonomy enables waypoint missions, timed sampling, and safe return-to-base procedures.

Applications include ecological and coastal monitoring, agricultural phenotyping, and industrial sensing. The kapslarpod concept has been developed by multiple research groups and companies since the early 2020s, with ongoing efforts to standardize interfaces and safety features. See also autonomous drone, autonomous underwater vehicle.