The new underwater drone can move even in extreme depths. [Slovak]

Source: nextech.sk | Author: nextech.sk | Read the full article in Slovak

China has recently unveiled an innovative underwater drone that is designed to operate in extreme depths where traditional vessels cannot reach. This compact robot, developed by researchers at Beihang University in Beijing, utilizes advanced metal actuators that convert the immense pressure of water into movement. This allows the drone to swim, glide, and crawl through challenging underwater environments, including the Mariana Trench, which is over 10 kilometers deep.

Creating smaller and lighter robots for such harsh underwater conditions is a complex task due to the need for components that can withstand high pressure and low temperatures. The research team has developed a soft actuator that transitions between two stable states, enabling the drone to store more elastic energy under pressure. As a result, the drone's movements become more powerful and agile at greater depths.

The researchers tested the drone in a laboratory aquarium before deploying it in the deep sea using a manned submersible. The drone successfully demonstrated its ability to crawl, swim, and glide at various depths, even operating effectively in the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,666 meters. The same propulsion technology was also used to create a soft tentacle that successfully collected live specimens from the seabed of the South China Sea at a depth of 3,400 meters.

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