Introducing the World's First "Intelligent Robotic Whale Shark"
A company located in Shenyang is leading the charge in integrating space technology with the maritime sector. They have achieved a major milestone by developing the world's first intelligent robotic whale shark.
TroibNews 
A company based in Shenyang is making strides by integrating aerospace technology into the maritime sector, presenting the world's inaugural intelligent robotic whale shark. This innovative creation is a product of the Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group, which is part of the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited. This development stands as a notable advancement in the field of marine technology.
This lifelike robotic whale shark, which measures nearly five meters in length and weighs 350 kilograms, is engineered to mimic the natural movements of its living counterpart with high fidelity. This includes capabilities such as swimming, turning, floating, diving, and simulating movements of the mouth.
"This is the largest bionic fish we have studied so far. The whale shark has seven actuated joints, and each joint requires computing, communication, and sensing, which is also our key technology," explained Gao Chao, a designer from the company's Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.
The robot is equipped with advanced features including wireless remote control, pre-programmed swimming patterns, and a multi-joint bionic propulsion system. It can move at speeds up to 0.7 meters per second and reach depths of 20 meters. Additionally, it comes installed with optical cameras, diverse sensors, sonar, and a BeiDou positioning system, making it suitable for a variety of applications such as monitoring water quality, mapping underwater terrains, and other specialized tasks.
"For example, when this robot performs underwater or carries out a task, it will inevitably encounter various obstacles on its route. How to fuse information obtained by multiple sensors is actually a technical difficulty. It can be understood that the brain of a whale shark is a computer. A mass of data must be screened and extracted synchronously, and then mutually corrected and verified before the truly effective data can be quickly extracted for our bionic whale shark to identify the surrounding environment," noted Fang Xuelin, assistant director of the Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.
The robotic whale shark offers several advantages over traditional underwater robots, particularly those driven by propellers. Its fully enclosed design helps prevent pollution of water bodies, while its sleek shape reduces entanglement with underwater objects and diminishes the risk to aquatic life.
Following this groundbreaking project, the company has broadened its range of bionic products to include models resembling Yangtze finless porpoises, killer whales, and dolphins. This fusion of intelligent systems with bionic marine technology is spearheading innovation in the sector of underwater robotics.
As global exploration and utilization of oceanic resources intensify, underwater robots are increasingly crucial. With continuing improvements in materials science, control technology, and artificial intelligence, bionic robots like this whale shark are setting the stage for transformative impacts on marine operations and scientific research.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
This lifelike robotic whale shark, which measures nearly five meters in length and weighs 350 kilograms, is engineered to mimic the natural movements of its living counterpart with high fidelity. This includes capabilities such as swimming, turning, floating, diving, and simulating movements of the mouth.
"This is the largest bionic fish we have studied so far. The whale shark has seven actuated joints, and each joint requires computing, communication, and sensing, which is also our key technology," explained Gao Chao, a designer from the company's Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.
The robot is equipped with advanced features including wireless remote control, pre-programmed swimming patterns, and a multi-joint bionic propulsion system. It can move at speeds up to 0.7 meters per second and reach depths of 20 meters. Additionally, it comes installed with optical cameras, diverse sensors, sonar, and a BeiDou positioning system, making it suitable for a variety of applications such as monitoring water quality, mapping underwater terrains, and other specialized tasks.
"For example, when this robot performs underwater or carries out a task, it will inevitably encounter various obstacles on its route. How to fuse information obtained by multiple sensors is actually a technical difficulty. It can be understood that the brain of a whale shark is a computer. A mass of data must be screened and extracted synchronously, and then mutually corrected and verified before the truly effective data can be quickly extracted for our bionic whale shark to identify the surrounding environment," noted Fang Xuelin, assistant director of the Underwater Propulsion Technology Research Office.
The robotic whale shark offers several advantages over traditional underwater robots, particularly those driven by propellers. Its fully enclosed design helps prevent pollution of water bodies, while its sleek shape reduces entanglement with underwater objects and diminishes the risk to aquatic life.
Following this groundbreaking project, the company has broadened its range of bionic products to include models resembling Yangtze finless porpoises, killer whales, and dolphins. This fusion of intelligent systems with bionic marine technology is spearheading innovation in the sector of underwater robotics.
As global exploration and utilization of oceanic resources intensify, underwater robots are increasingly crucial. With continuing improvements in materials science, control technology, and artificial intelligence, bionic robots like this whale shark are setting the stage for transformative impacts on marine operations and scientific research.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
