Chinese engineers have unveiled a miniature robotic jellyfish that is almost indistinguishable from a live jellyfish in appearance and movement. This robotic jellyfish is designed specifically for underwater exploration, as traditional underwater vehicles generate excessive noise during underwater operations.
The technology was developed by Northwestern Polytechnical University. This robotic jellyfish uses electrohydraulic muscle actuators and hydrogel electrode materials to precisely replicate the pulsating movements of a real jellyfish.
The prototype consumes only about 28.5 milliwatts of power, is 12 centimeters in diameter, and weighs 56 grams. It has a built-in camera and artificial intelligence chip for recognizing underwater objects. However, there are concerns that the jellyfish's lifelike appearance might attract the attention of other marine animals, who might mistake it for prey.
The project is led by Professor Tao Kai, who has previously researched other biomimetic robots, including a giant robotic ray weighing 470 kilograms and capable of diving to a depth of 1025 meters.
