Meet RoboRay, the ultimate underwater spy drone: 'Chameleon' drone mimics different fish to blend in with its surroundings
- The roboray is made of transparent silicon and is mostly invisible to marine life
- The battery powered robot has a small video camera to monitor its surroundings
- It can swim in both hot (74.2°C, 165°F) and cold temperatures (0.4°C, 32°F)
- It could be used to survey the oceans coral reefs or explore shipwrecks
A new roboray that could survey the oceans coral reefs has been designed by researchers.
The bot was modeled after manta rays and is made of transparent silicon parts which are mostly invisible to other marine life.
The robot could be used for exploration studies, including examining shipwrecks without damaging them.
The robot, designed by researchers based at Zhejiang University in China, can swim at a speed of 6.4 centimeters (2.5 inches) per second, or 0.69 body lengths per second.
This is slower than similar sized fish, who typically swim four times faster.
Videos of the bot (which was dyed in green for contrast) demonstrate that it can swim at both hot and cold temperatures ranging from 0.4°C (32°F) to 74.2°C (165°F).
The roboray doesn't have a motor - instead it relies on a soft electronic structure powered by a lithium battery.
Share this article
The roboray doesn't have a motor - instead it relies on a soft electronic structure powered by a lithium battery
The bots flexible, soft body allows it to navigate without damaging the marine environment. It can make sharp turns under remote control while carrying a video camera, which can be used for marine observations
The transparent version of the bot. It can swim at both hot and cold temperatures ranging from 0.4°C (32°F) to 74.2°C (165°F)
However, it can only operate for three hours on a single charge, so it can't stay underwater for long periods of time.
The bot has a silicone tail with an a electromagnet embedded inside it to help steer it.
The roboray is made of a flexible polymer material for its fin 'muscles,' and the rest is made of silicone.
The bot was modeled after manta rays, which generate thrust through periodically flapping their pectoral fins.
The fins are powered by cyclic voltage that squeezes the material, causing the fins to move up and down and propel the bot through the water.
(a) Tilted view of the roboray showing the power and remote control system. (b) Snapshots of the robotic fish swimming under remote control
Live snapshots of the swimming fish with wired power. T represents time required for one full flapping cycle. (a) Front views of the bending variations of the body and fins. (b) Side views of the forward motion of the fish and undulatory motion of the fins. The white dashed lines highlight the fin edges. (c) Top views of the images in (b)
The bots flexible, soft body allows it to navigate without damaging the marine environment.
The roboray has a body length of 9.3 centimeters (3.7 inches) and weighs 90 grams (3.2 ounces).
It can make sharp turns under remote control while carrying a video camera, which can be used for marine observations.
The fins are powered by cyclic voltage that squeezes the material, causing the fins to move up and down and propel the bot through the water, in a similar way to how manta rays flap their pectoral fins
3D printing was used to produce certain components of the bot, whose 'muscles' were made using a thin hydrogel film that was sandwiched between two stretched membranes.
The fins were made using two silicone films and two rigid L shaped frames glued together.
The research was published in the journal Science Advances.
Most watched News videos
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- Despicable moment female thief steals elderly woman's handbag
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Murder suspects dragged into cop van after 'burnt body' discovered
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.
