Overview of the deep-sea miniature multimodal robot.
Li Wen
Researchers have created a tiny, shape-shifting robot that swims, crawls, and glides freely in the deep sea.
Developed by a team at the Beihang University in China, the robot operated at a depth of 10,600 meters in the Mariana Trench.
Using the same actuator technology, a soft gripper mounted on a submersible’s rigid arm successfully retrieved sea urchins and starfish from the South China Sea, demonstrating its capability for deep-sea exploration and specimen collection.
“This study offers design insights into creating next-generation miniature deep-sea actuators and robots, paving the way for future exploration and interaction with deep-sea ecosystems,” said the team in the study abstract.
Versatile deep-sea robot
Deep-sea exploration devices are typically large and can harm fragile ecosystems. Developing smaller, lightweight robots for extreme underwater environments is challenging due to the need for components that withstand high pressures and low temperatures.
To overcome this, the group created a soft actuator that uses a snap-through action to shift between two stable states. Because of its incompressible parts, the actuator can store more elastic energy at greater pressures. As a result, motions become stronger and faster at deeper depths.
The researchers built a robot with these actuators, a microcontroller and onboard battery, and shape memory alloy springs to initiate the snap-through action.
It has legs for crawling, symmetrical tail fins for swimming, and folding pectoral fins for gliding. The robot can change its locomotion modes by moving its legs and retracting its gliding fins. Because of its adaptability, it can effectively traverse a variety of underwater terrains.
Robotic ocean discovery
Researchers initially tested the robot in a laboratory aquarium before deploying it in the deep sea using a crewed submersible. The robot demonstrated its ability to crawl, swim, and glide at various depths, successfully operating at the Haima Cold Seep at 1,384 meters and the Mariana Trench at 10,666 meters. This adaptability showcases the robot’s potential for deep-sea exploration in challenging environments.
The researchers used the same actuator technology to create a soft gripper in addition to the robot’s performance. The gripper successfully retrieved live specimens from the South China Sea’s 3,400-meter-deep seafloor when it was fastened to a submersible’s rigid arm.
For future research, the gathered specimens—which included starfish and sea urchins—were securely kept in a container. According to researchers, the gripper’s success demonstrates how this actuator technology may be used in underwater research and marine life.
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The actuators, which rely on snap-through motion for movement, are designed to withstand extreme pressures. The actuators’ incorporation of incompressible components allows them to store more elastic energy at higher pressures, allowing for forceful and quick movements even at considerable depths. When paired with shape memory alloy springs, the system provides reliable and effective movement.
Further developments in tiny robot and actuator design, according to researchers, have the potential to transform deep-sea exploration completely. With little ecological disturbance, such advancements could improve the capacity to gather biological samples, investigate delicate ecosystems, and deepen our knowledge of the uncharted areas of the deep ocean.
The details of the team’s research were published in the journal Science Robotics.
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ABOUT THE EDITOR
Jijo Malayil Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.
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