China Develops Submarine Similar to Manta Shark, Can Dive 2,000 Meters

China is developing a drone submarine that moves to mimic manta rays. This underwater vehicle is claimed to be able to operate at depths of 2,000 meters, quieter, and more friendly to marine ecosystems.

China Daily, quoted on Monday, June 29, reported that the technology was developed by Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The electric-powered submarine is remotely controlled and designed to reduce interference with marine life.

Unlike propeller submarines, this vehicle does not generate large water currents. Propellers on conventional underwater vehicles often make loud noises, stir up the bottom sediment, make images blurry, and disturb marine organisms.

"We translate the manta ray swimming mechanism into engineering technology so that deep-sea exploration becomes more efficient, quieter, and more in line with the marine environment," said Cao Yong, a researcher at the School of Marine Science and Technology at the university.

Cao said the submarine uses a propulsion system in the form of a wavy fin like the movement of a manta ray. This design makes the vehicle smoother when moving underwater.

The research team also uses variable buoyancy technology. Simply put, this technology allows vehicles to regulate up and down in the water with energy efficiency, similar to the principle used in underwater gliders.

In the gliding mode, the submarine moves up and down periodically with very low power consumption. This allows for deep sea surveys over a wide range, even up to thousands of kilometers.

In the flapping mode, its side fins move slowly to maneuver more agile. The submarine can spin in place, quickly change the angle of motion, and hover stably at one point.

The switch between the two modes is key. The vehicle is not only powerful for long journeys, but also remains agile when it has to work close to the sea floor.

According to Cao, because it does not use fast rotating components, this submarine produces low noise and small current interference. It is also not easy to stir up sediment when operating near the sea floor.

Its flat body shape provides stability when landing on the sea floor. This vehicle can also be placed under water for a long time, go into standby mode, and then be reactivated when needed.

To recognize objects in the complex underwater environment, this submarine uses tiered recognition technology. The system helps distinguish corals, shipwrecks, and other underwater objects so that they are not mistakenly read as targets.

Cao said the submarine is capable of withstanding pressures of up to 200 atmospheres. This ability allows it to work at depths of up to 2,000 meters.

The development does not just imitate the shape of the manta ray. The research team analyzed tens of thousands of manta ray movement videos. They also kept cownose rays in the laboratory because the animals have biological characteristics similar to manta rays.

The team worked with Ningbo University in Zhejiang to conduct 3D scanning and CT imaging. The goal was to study the structure of the muscle and bony pari as a design basis.

Cao said the submarine could be used to monitor coral reefs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents for long periods of time without much noise. Data from such missions could help biodiversity conservation.

This vehicle can also be used in marine cultivation areas. Its functions include early warning of fish diseases, helping to provide more precise feed, and monitoring fish that have escaped from cultivation areas.

In addition, the submarine can be used for underwater archaeology and marine science education.

According to China Daily, the research team plans to add artificial intelligence and swarm algorithms so that submarines can navigate autonomously underwater, including when communication is limited.

Pan Guang, President of the School of Marine Science and Technology, assessed that this research fills China's technological gap in biomimetic submarines. According to him, the technology combines the ability to survey large areas with high-precision operations under the sea.