China unveils ‘ghost’ drone for stealth underwater surveillance
Robot featuring a transparent umbrella-like body and tentacles mimics the movement and mannerisms of jellyfish
Described as an “underwater phantom”, the bionic jellyfish robot was developed by Tao Kai from Northwestern Polytechnical University’s school of mechanical and electrical engineering in Xian, Shaanxi province.
“Thanks to its low power consumption, near-silent operation and lifelike design, the robot is uniquely suited for deep-sea covert monitoring, observing fragile ecosystems and performing precise inspections of underwater structures,” Science and Technology Daily quoted Tao as saying on Monday.
The robot’s transparent form, complete with an umbrella-like body and tentacles, closely mimics a jellyfish and is made from a hydrogel electrode material developed by the research team.
The result is a compact device measuring 120mm (4.7 inches) in diameter and weighing just 56 grams (two ounces).
