Cross-Medium Flying-Diving Robot AquaFly Completes Mariana Trench Test: Seamless Air-to-Underwater Transition
AquaFly robot can switch from flight mode to diving mode in 3 seconds, reaching a maximum depth of 11,000 meters, completing its first cross-medium operation test in the Mariana Trench.
Japan's University of Tokyo Robotics Laboratory announced on February 28 that its cross-medium robot AquaFly has successfully completed its first full-ocean-depth test in the Mariana Trench. AquaFly can seamlessly switch between aerial flight, surface gliding, and deep-sea diving modes — entering water from air in just 3 seconds and descending from the surface to 11,000 meters in approximately 4 hours.
AquaFly weighs 12 kilograms with a 1.2-meter wingspan. Its core technology is a variable-configuration propulsion system: in air, four rotors provide lift; upon entering water, the rotors fold away and a stern propeller activates; in deep-sea high-pressure environments, the shape-memory alloy fuselage skin automatically adjusts to a streamlined form to reduce drag.
During the Mariana Trench test, AquaFly captured 4K high-definition video and collected three sediment samples. Applications include ocean scientific research, submarine pipeline inspection, and underwater archaeology.
Lab director Professor Nakamura said the next-generation AquaFly prototype will reduce weight to under 5 kilograms and add a robotic arm for underwater object manipulation.
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