But each bridge owner must weigh the costs and benefits of including high-tech sensor arrays.

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Those add-ons connect with standard header pins and can take the form of anything from a processor to sensor arrays.

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The product of a decade of research in colorimetric sensor arrays, it works when dipped into the substance, and takes about two minutes to get results.

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Papa Mau faced its own challenges, including long stretches of cloudy days that made it difficult for its two solar panels to collect enough energy to power its sensor arrays.

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Packed in their 7-by-2-foot titanium-framed fiberglass bodies are terabytes of cellphone flash storage, a dual-core ARM processor running open Linux software, a battery pack, sensor arrays, a GPS unit, and wireless and satellite communications systems.

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Liquid Robotics, the Silicon Valley startup that makes the surfboard-sized robot called a Wave Glider, announced Wednesday that Papa Mau arrived off the coast of Queensland, Australia, on Nov. 20 after surviving storms, sharks and 25-foot surf while its solar-powered sensor arrays collected terabytes of data on ocean and atmospheric conditions during the year-long journey.

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