“Unveiling the Abyss: Robot Submarine Dives into Darkness in Search of Deep-Sea ‘Aliens’ – What Will It Discover?”
A remarkable feat in oceanic exploration has taken place: a tiny robot has officially reached the abyss of the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in Earth’s oceans. Just imagine that! While most of us prefer a regular swimming pool, this groundbreaking little device isn’t afraid of the ocean’s dark, eerie depths, continuing its quest to uncover new forms of life lurking in the shadows. Just as our Mars rover provides a window into distant worlds, this innovative robot opens a new chapter in understanding the chaotic undersea environment, reminding us that humanity’s curiosity knows no bounds—yet it’s perhaps safer, and certainly more reasonable, for something made of metal and circuits to brave those treacherous depths instead of a human being! Standing at a mere 50cm in length and weighing only 16 grams—less than a slice of bread—this little marvel withstands enormous pressure, akin to balancing an iceberg on your thumb! Curious what else it might discover? Stick around, because the ocean is home to creatures that could tantalize or terrify… and you’d want to stay updated on this aquatic adventure. So, whether you’re a lover of science or just in it for the weird and wild, there’s plenty to dive into—no pun intended! LEARN MORE.
A robot exploring Earth’s oceans has officially reached the world’s deepest point, as it continues its search for new forms of deep sea life.
Robots are often our only way of exploring places too inhospitable for humans to travel. We’ve seen it with the Mars rover, which only recently discovered a strange rock covered in spheres, leaving scientists puzzled.
The incredible technology behind the magnificent James Webb telescope has also given humanity access to images that would’ve blown people’s minds only a few decades ago.
Since the deep sea can undoubtedly be a scary place, I’m glad that there’s a robot down there rather than a human.
And this one is pretty special, weighing just 16 grams and capable of withstanding the equivalent pressure of a one tonne weight being placed on a thumbnail, Chinese news agency Xinhua reports.
The tiny submarine is just 50cm wide and weighs just 16g (Chinese Embassy Manila)
The tiny Chinese drone survived a mission to the bottom of the Mariana Trench – which is regarded as the world’s deepest pit in any of Earth’s oceans.
While its search for those pesky deep-sea ‘aliens’ so far has been unsuccessful, it represents a groundbreaking moment for the shapeshifting 50cm long robot to have survived a trip there and back.
It’s also had dives at Haima Cold Seep to 1,384m and Longxi Seamount (3,756m) and come back intact each time.
The robot in action (Beahang University)
The professor behind the project has explained exactly how the robot was able to withstand the incredible pressure that far underwater.
Professor Wen Li, who led the project, said: “At a depth of 10km, the pressure is like a robot bearing the weight of an iceberg.
“The material structure transforms external high pressure into enhanced speed and amplitude for the actuator, turning the weakness into an asset.”
A CGI-generated video also shows exactly how the small robot operates, as it spreads its wings and lands itself, before crawling forward at 3cm per second.
The way the robot moves was inspired by batfishes, an extraordinarily ugly-looking type of anglerfish which uses its pectoral and pelvic fins to crawl across the ocean floor.
Given some of the creatures we know of, and perhaps even more the ones we don’t know of, that live in the deep sea, the kind of creatures the robot might discover is both exciting and terrifying.
The robot was previously tested on deep trenches and came back fully intact each time, with the team now planning future missions as they look to improve the drone’s performance even further.
