MIT researchers have developed an underwater robot that they hope will be able to protect America's ports by scanning the hulls of incoming ships.
The robot is about the size of an American football and is divided into two halves, one that is waterproof and another that is water-permeable. The waterproof section houses a rechargeable lithium battery and electronics, while the semi-permeable section contains six pumps that force water out through tubes, propelling the robot forward.
As the robot leaves almost no wake as it travels through the water, so it's difficult to detect. It is able to travel between 0.5 and 1 meter per second while it is pressed against the hull of a ship, while its battery charge lasts about 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, gyroscopes and accelerometers are used to pinpoint the exact location of the robots.
The robot was originally designed to search for cracks in the water tanks of nuclear reactors using ultrasound scanning technology. However, researchers say the same robot can be used to covertly inspect ships entering ports. The scanning technology is able to detect false hulls and hollow propeller shafts that smugglers may use to hide contraband.
As much of the robot is created using 3D-printing technology, it is relatively inexpensive to develop. This means officials could hide a fleet of robots in underwater grasses and seaweed to clandestinely scan hulls without being noticed, researchers added.
