A Robotic Sea Turtle Might Soon Be Gliding Through an Ocean Near You
Beatbot
When designing a fast, agile, and adaptable underwater robot, why not take inspiration from nature? That’s precisely what China’s Beatbot did with its bio-inspired Amphibious RoboTurtle.
Unveiled as a prototype at CES last week, this autonomous robot is built for tasks like ecological research, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.
Equipped for Advanced Exploration
It can be outfitted with various hardware, including a water sampling unit, GPS module, ultrasonic sensors, and AI-powered cameras. These cameras are said to enable the robot to detect and respond to environmental changes while autonomously tracking or following marine animals.
Beatbot
The RoboTurtle moves quietly by flapping its multi-jointed bionic legs, which its designers claim makes it less disruptive to wildlife compared to propeller-driven robots. It also includes a buoyancy control system, enabling it to ascend and descend in the water column and float at the surface.
Sustainable and Versatile Operation
While floating, the robot can recharge its battery using solar panels on its back and transmit collected data or receive updated mission instructions via satellite. Its powered legs even allow it to crawl onto beaches, though it’s unlikely to win any speed contests on land.
Beatbot
Impressive Endurance and Natural Speed
Although exact performance details are still under wraps, a Beatbot representative shared that the RoboTurtle swims at a speed comparable to a real sea turtle and could potentially operate all day with periodic solar-charging breaks.
Beatbot, best known for its pool-cleaning robots, does intend to commercialize the Amphibious RoboTurtle. Its size and capabilities will be customized to meet the specific needs of each client.
However, it won’t be the only robotic turtle in the ocean. Research teams from ETH Zurich, the ARROWS project, and the National University of Singapore are also developing their own swimming turtle-inspired robots.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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