# 222. Tree-Climbing and Reef-Restoring Robots

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2025-06-17
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots-UVM_lq5u

## Summary

Hosts discuss three robotics projects developed by students at ETH Zurich under the Focus program: Monkey, a tree-climbing robot using screw-based adhesion; Reef Ranger, an autonomous underwater robot for coral restoration; and Argos, an automated monitoring system for laboratory mice welfare. The episode highlights how student constraints drive innovation and how these technologies address ecological and ethical challenges in biology and environmental science.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=295) ETH Zurich Focus Program Overview
- [6:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=381) Monkey: Tree-Climbing Robot Design
- [13:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=825) Reef Ranger: Underwater Coral Restoration
- [15:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=932) Argos: Lab Mouse Welfare Monitoring
- [19:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots#t=1183) Conclusion and Recap

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- ETH Zurich (company)
- Monkey (product)
- Reef Ranger (product)
- Argos (product)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Gecko Robotics (company)
- Dyson (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode Twenty-Nine: Sina Sareh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-12-09-episode-twenty-nine-sina-sareh) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 107: Animal-inspired robot movement - Robert Siddall](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-01-31-episode-107-animal-inspired-robot-movement-robert-siddall) (Robot Talk)
- [Bonus Episode: Robotics for Sustainability (ERF 2026)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 138: Robots in the environment - Stefano Mintchev](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-19-episode-138-robots-in-the-environment-stefano-mintchev) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 111: Robots for climate action - Patrick Meier](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Next Byte Podcast.