The Beijing Aerospace University develops a compact robot with both feet that can swim or crawl at a depth of 10,666 m under the sea.
Compact robot is manufactured by the Beijing Aerospace University. Image: Li Wen
Deep sea exploration equipment is often bulky and can be harmful to fragile ecosystems. Developing a smaller, lighter robot for harsh underwater environment is also difficult because it is necessary to withstand low temperatures and high pressure.
To overcome this barrier, the research team from the Beijing Aerospace University made a soft transmission using Snap-Through mechanism to quickly switch between two stable states. Because parts cannot be compressed, the transmission can store more elastic energy at greater pressure. As a result, the movement becomes stronger and faster at greater depth. Research is published in detail in the magazine Science Robotics March 19.
A group of robot manufacturers with transmitters, a microcontroller, battery and alloy spring memorize shape to activate Snap-Through. The robot has legs to crawl, solicited tail fins for swimming and chest fins can be folded to surf in water. The robot changes the movement mode by moving the foot and the fins. Thanks to adaptable ability, it can move effectively through many water terrain.
Initially, the research team tested robots in an experimental aquarium before bringing it into a deep sea with a driver. Robots have proven the ability to crawl, swim and surf at different depths. It works well at Haima refrigeration hole at a depth of 1,384 m and Mariana groove, the deepest place in the world, at a depth of 10,666 m. This adaptability shows the potential of robots in exploring challenging environments in the sea.
In addition to transforming robots, the team also uses new transmission technology to create a soft clamp. The clamp has successfully collected the sample from the 3,400 m deep seabed when attached to the hard robot arm of the submarine. The sample includes sea stars and sea urchins, which are kept safely in the container for later research. The success of soft clamps shows the great applicability of transmission technology in underwater research.
The team said the subsequent advances in small robot design and the transmission can help completely change the deep sea exploration. These devices are less disturbing the ecosystem, increase the ability to collect biological samples, study fragile ecosystems and bring new information about the mysterious areas of the ocean.