China Creates Stealthy Jellyfish-Shaped Spy Robots
Credit: Northwestern Polytechnical University
Chinese scientists from Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an have developed a robot called “Water Ghost,” which is virtually indistinguishable from a real jellyfish in appearance and movement. Thanks to its low power consumption, the small device can remain underwater for extended periods, monitoring both the ocean ecosystem and underwater infrastructure, all while remaining discreet.
The robot, 12 cm in diameter and weighing 56 g, is equipped with a camera and an artificial intelligence chip for capturing and recognizing underwater objects. Its low power consumption makes it ideal for long-range monitoring.
The device’s maximum diving depth, speed, communication capabilities, and precise purpose remain unknown. The device is equipped with an electrostatic hydraulic drive that precisely mimics the neural signals that give jellyfish their signature pulsed motion.
In previous years, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and North Carolina State University presented a number of prototypes. The world’s oceans remain largely a mystery, and uncovering them is crucial for understanding the Earth’s global ecosystem.
