OTHERLAB- BASE AWARD CONTROL #1954-1586 PROJECT TITLE: SEASTAR: SELECTIVE THALASSIC AMBULATORY RETRIEVER (STAR) THE RECIPIENT PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A NODULE COLLECTOR CALLED THE SEASTAR, A LARGE PLATFORM ATTACHED TO A VACUUM FUNNEL THAT’S RINGED BY ROBOT ARMS. GROWTH, ELECTRIFICATION, AND INCREASED INSTALLATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IS DRIVING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN WORLDWIDE DEMAND FOR METALS LIKE MANGANESE, NICKEL, COPPER, AND COBALT. THIS INCREASE IN COMMODITY PRICES AND PROJECTED DEMAND HAS DRIVEN INTEREST IN EXPLORING NEW SOURCES OF MINERALS SUCH AS DEEP SEA MINING. THE ABYSSAL PLAIN CONTAINS LOCATIONS OF CONCENTRATED DEPOSITS OF POLYMETALLIC NODULES, 3-20CM DIAMETER METALLIC SECRETIONS WHICH ARE A YET-UNTAPPED RESERVE OF RELEVANT MINERALS THAT ARE 6KM UNDERWATER.