‘Flying fish’ robot can propel out of water

[Still Waters]

Like a flying fish gliding above the water’s surface, a robot can now propel itself out of water into flight.

Mirko Kovac and his colleagues at Imperial College London have developed a robot that can lift itself out of water and travel through the air for up to 26 metres.

The robot weighs 160 grams and could be used for monitoring the ocean sampling. It could take water samples by jumping in and out of the water in cluttered environments, avoiding obstacles such as ice in cold regions or floating objects after a flood.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2216119-robot-can-launch-out-of-the-water-and-glide-like-a-flying-fish/

https://techxplore.com/news/2019-09-fish-robot-propel-glide-air.html

[SHaYap]

Or sea front maritime defence mines ...

~

[psyche101]

Interesting but it still has to be dropped and picked up yeah? 

I reckon you're onto it 3rd, that would be a good cheap mine sweeper. 

[Eldorado]

Mirko Kovac, director of the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London, told  Digital Trends: "This robot is all about a high-powered propulsion system that allows it to transition from water to air.

“To make this transition effective, we need a very high-powered system that allows it to clear the water and enter gliding flight.

"As a locomotion principle, this aquatic jump-gliding is also used by flying fish. That’s partially where the inspiration comes from.”

Video and report at the UK Mirror: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/flying-fish-robot-farts-out-20390222

At Imperial College London: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/192826/flying-fish-robot-propel-itself-water/

Paper abstract: https://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/4/34/eaax7330

Short Digital Trends video at YouTube: