Welcome back to High Impact Thesis!

This episode dives beneath the surface, exploring the 70% of our planet that remains largely hidden. We speak with Abu Bakr Azam from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, whose doctoral work is challenging the million-dollar price tag of deep-sea access.

His thesis, "Acoustic Aided Localization and Perception for Low-Cost Underwater Robotics," shows how to explore the oceans without breaking the bank. We discuss how his novel systems achieve centimeter-level localization accuracy using affordable sensors, overcoming challenges like murky water and the complete failure of GPS.

Join us to explore the future of low-cost autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the drive for new solutions like non-contact cleaning, and how this work opens doors for conservation, energy, and scientific discovery. Abu Bakr also shares a candid look at the personal journey of completing this complex and impactful PhD.