Researchers are developing a smart turtle robot that can perform dangerous missions just like the fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). Engineers at the National University of Singapore (NNUS) are creating biomimetic robotic turtles that will soon take on complicated deep ocean missions such as underwater surveillance and energy harvesting.
Engineering researchers at the NUS claim that they are on the brink of completing a robot turtle that can dive in deep waters. The robotic turtles will be utilized to conduct hazardous tasks such as detection of underwater nuclear waste, which may be harmful for humans. The robotic turtle could also be used for oceanic surveys, inspecting underwater cable pipe, ship hull and more.
The NUS Researchers suggest that the robotic turtle will look very similar to other sea turtles and will also have a brain of its own. The robot will be very manoeuvrable, which will help it to tackle various obstacles. The robot can take sharp turns even at small turning radius without compromising on speed.
S. K. Panda, an associate professor at NUS' Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, who is involved in the development of the robotic turtle, suggests that the robot will not have a ballast system that is commonly found in other underwater robots.
The absence of the ballast system will make the robotic turtle light and small, which will enable it to carry more payloads in its missions. The robot will be able to dive vertically which will enable it to get into vertical pipes or tunnels.
The turtle's small size and light weight means it will be more energy efficient. The robotic turtle will also have the ability to self-charge itself, which means it does not have to return to a charging station and can remain at its mission for longer times.
"We can have a swarm of tiny turtles which communicate with each other and act collaboratively to perform their duties. With improved maneuverability they can go to tiny and narrow places like crevices where bigger vessels are unable to do so," says Professor Panda.
The robotic turtle is not the only underwater robot the team is working on. Researchers suggest that they have also developed prototypes of a robot that resemble a life-like puffer fish and three robotic fish of diverse morphologies. The researchers claim that the robots are modular, scalable and can also avoid detection.
