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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — The navy’s newest robot looks just like a shark.
Called GhostSwimmer, the unmanned underwater vehicle was designed to mimic the movements of a large fish, according to the U.S. Navy. Researchers reported that GhostSwimmer successfully gathered data on tides, varied currents, wakes and weather conditions during a test Thursday.
"It swims just like a fish does by oscillating its tail fin back and forth," Boston Engineering’s Advanced Systems Group director Michael Rufo said in a statement. "The unit is a combination of unmanned systems engineering and unique propulsion and control capabilities."
The robot weighs approximately 100 pounds and is about 5 feet long, according to researchers. They said the mechanical fish can operate in water that is between 10 inches and 300 feet deep.
GhostSwimmer can be controlled by a laptop with a 500-foot tether or let loose to operate autonomously for long periods of time, according to developers. While tethered, the robot is able to continuously transmit information back to its operators. If it is operating autonomously, the robot needs to be brought to the water’s surface so data can be downloaded.
Using the robot will provide extra security during surveillance and reconnaissance missions, in addition to friendly hull inspections, according to the Navy Warfare Development Command. The unmanned vehicle is reportedly quieter than other crafts of a similar size that are driven by propellers.
"GhostSwimmer will allow the Navy to have success during more types of missions while keeping divers and sailors safe," Rufo said.
