This bionic shark can perform some useful tasks, such as mapping the underwater terrain, checking out the water quality.
China, which claims to be the leader in technology, has yet again shocked the world by merging both marine industry and space technology, thus unveiled the globe’s first intelligent robotic whale shark. The intelligent marine robot has been created by Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group, under the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited.
The five-meter-long, 350 Kg robo shark has the ability to move like a real shark with an impeccable precision, teeth, swimming, diving, and floating. Gao Chao, designer of Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group’s Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office said, “This is the largest bionic fish we have studied so far. The whale shark has seven actuated joints, and each joint requires computing, communication, and sensing, which is also our key technology.”
The bionic shark is furnished with some cutting-edge features, which include programmed swimming, wireless remote control, and multi-joint bionic propulsion. These unique features assist the robo shark to move at a speed of 0.7 meters per second and dive to depths of 20 meters. Moreover, there are some in-built sonar technology, sensors, BeiDou navigation satellite system, and cameras. This bionic shark can perform some useful tasks, such as mapping the underwater terrain, checking out the water quality, and it can carry out some other specialized tasks.
Fang Xuelin, assistant director of the Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office said, “For example, when this robot performs underwater or carries out a task, it will inevitably encounter various obstacles on its route. How to fuse information obtained by multiple sensors is actually a technical difficulty. It can be understood that the brain of a whale shark is a computer.”
Compared to the traditional propeller infused underwater robots, this robotic shark with its enclosed design helps in restricting water pollution by reducing the release of harmful chemicals and polluting subjects. Additionally, there is no risk of getting caught in marine obstacles, and reduces dangers to marine ecosystems. After the successful completion and demo of this product, the company has unveiled its further bionic product range to surround dolphins and killer whales.
