Inspired by the swift swimming motion of the tuna, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security created the BIOSwimmer -- a lookalike fish robot designed for underwater patrols.
When considering fish to model an aquatic security drone after, the first thing that comes to the minds of most people is probably something intimidating like a shark or stingray. But, as it turns out, the Bluefish Tuna is an exceptionally efficient swimmer, making it an ideal model for submarines.
Built by Boston engineers, the BIOSwimmer is an unmanned submersible vessel that was created to inspect equipment and assets located in inhospitable environments. For example, it might be called on to inspect harbours and ports for bombs and explosives, or investigate polluted waters near an offshore oil rig to see if pumps are working properly.
Biologically inspired robotics or biomimetics is a fairly new science that has yielded promising results in recent years. A number of useful designs have already been produced that are based on the movements of animals like dogs, lobsters and geckos.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Biologically-inspired Robotics
- Exploring the use of animal movements to create innovative robotic designs for various applications.
- Underwater Security Drones
- Developing autonomous and efficient submersible vehicles for inspecting and patrolling underwater environments.
- Environmental Monitoring Technologies
- Utilizing advanced technologies to monitor and assess the condition of polluted waters and offshore infrastructure.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Defense and Security
- Implementing biologically-inspired robotics for effective underwater surveillance and detection of threats.
- Maritime and Port Operations
- Adopting underwater security drones to inspect harbors and ports for potential threats like bombs and explosives.
- Oil and Gas
- Using innovative technologies to monitor and maintain the condition of offshore oil rigs and related equipment.
