In an attempt to protect the shores of the United States, Homeland Security has created the ultimate weapon in the war on terror. Dubbed BioSwimmer, the robotic fish is modeled after a tuna, which is said to have the perfect shape for an underwater, unmanned vehicle.
Developed by Boston Engineering Corporation’s Advanced Systems Group the robot sports great maneuverability, which allows it to get into places that something bigger or less nimble wouldn’t be able to reach. However, rather than only act like one of those bomb-diffusing robots but underwater, the robotic fish can also go out on underwater patrol and perform searches, or make inspections of underwater equipment.
Program manager for the project David Taylor explains why BioSwimmer was based off the seemingly innocuous tuna — biomimetics. Biomimetics is the study of basing the designs of machines on the designs of nature, following the notion that biological creatures that have survived in nature must be doing something right. The tuna has had millions of years to adapt to an underwater environment, and provide a worthwhile blueprint for an underwater surveillance drone.
Unlike the tuna, BioSwimmer is capable of swimming around in high viscosity fluids, such as oil, and can be controlled via a laptop, or operate on its own. The fish also comes equipped with a long-lasting battery, as well as sensors and communications equipment to report findings back to home base.
If Homeland Security gets its way — and we here in the US hope they do — we can sleep safe at night knowing the war on terror is being fought away from our shores and not on our beaches.
via Daily Mail