China has created a soft robot for the Mariana Trench
Scientists from China have created an autonomous device capable of diving to great depths. This is the first soft robot of its kind, reports Nature .
Deep diving vehicles have to withstand tremendous pressure. Heavy-duty buildings are being built for them, but this requires large financial investments.
The authors of the new development took a different path. They created a robot from soft polymers and shaped it into a flying fish. “Wings” flap with artificial muscles. The electric current causes the “muscle” to contract and pull the wing upward, and when the tension is released, it returns to its original position.
The soft robot was already sinking to the bottom of the South China Sea, where the depth reached 3,224 meters. It was also tested in a chamber at a pressure of 110 MPa.
Scientists managed to find a non-standard solution to another problem: the placement of electronics. They didn't try to “pack” it into the smallest possible package. Instead, they resorted to imitating the structure of snail bones.
The necessary components were placed in different parts of the robot and provided with a silicone shell. This resulted in a significant reduction in component load.
After a series of tests, scientists connected the robot to a traditional underwater vehicle and sent it to the Mariana Trench, where it also worked without interruption. The immersion depth reached 10,900 meters.
Earlier it was reported that a robot squid was created in the United States. It is designed to explore deep water areas.
