Boaters told to be on the lookout for marine lab’s missing underwater robot

[Allison]

SARASOTA, Fla. - Scientists on Florida's Gulf Coast are trying to find an underwater robot that has mysteriously vanished.

The robot from the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota has been missing since Monday.

The robot, which cost about $100,000, also was equipped with a detector to find red tide, a toxic algae bloom. The detector was valued at another $30,000.

Scientists aren't sure what happened to the robot, which is nicknamed Waldo. It could have had a leak or malfunction and sunk to the bottom. It also could be on the surface, but its communication system isn't working properly to signal its location.

The lab hopes boaters out for the busy Labor Day weekend might spot Waldo.

Fla. boaters told to look out for AWOL robot - Weird news- msnbc.com