Researchers have made a step forward in the development of futuristic robots that could be help boost deep-sea exploration.
Scientists at Harbin Engineering University worked with partners to develop a robot that looks and swims – adorably – like a tiny fish.
They did this by building a soft electrohydraulic device that used a liquid to help with movement and stop the soft materials from becoming stiff and, therefore, less effective. The study has been published in the journal Science Robotics.
“Soft robots, with their compliant bodies, minimal environmental disturbance, and ability to withstand ambient pressures, offer promising solutions for deep-sea exploration,” says the study.
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In the video, the little robot can be seen wiggling its body to propel itself along the seabed. While thousands of metres deep, it swam forwards, turned left and right, and even did a U-turn. There is visibly strong current in the water but it manages to withstand it and keep swimming.
“Field tests at depths of ~1,360, 3,176 and ~4,071 metres confirmed the robot’s ability to sense the environment, navigate complex trajectories, and withstand unsteady disturbances,” the authors say in the paper.
See the soft-bodied robot in action
Image and video credit: Credit: Guorui Li et al., Plasticized electrohydraulic robot autopilots in the deep sea
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