China Realizes Monitoring Coral Reef Growth in South China Sea Using Bionic Submersible

China has reached a significant milestone by deploying a bionic submarine to monitor coral reef growth in the South China Sea, according to media reports on Monday.

The achievement was led by a team from the School of Marine Science and Technology at Northwest Polytechnic University, China Central Television reported. They developed a biomimetic soft-body diver shaped like a manta ray.

The team has been researching the bionic submersible since 2016, breaking out key technologies such as bionic fluid shape optimization design and fluid-structure coupling simulation of pectoral fin flapping, integrated propulsion design with sliding and flapping during movement, and control to smoothly change elevation. -Unified multimodal mobility.

The group focuses on coral growth and island reef foundations in the South China Sea, and has introduced the latest development of 30 kg and 720 kg biomimetic manta ray soft-body diving robots ranging from flexible small-scale to operational large-scale.

At present, submarines have performed various tasks such as long distance drifting, wide area or constant depth or constant hydrological micro-collection and replacement of rare animals in marine fisheries. It has achieved technological progress in the practical application of biomimetic underwater equipment in China and completed more than 200 operations.