කොරල් පර රකින මඩු රොබෝ

Manta ray-shaped biomimetic robot helps protect coral reefs

A biomimetic robot in the shape of a manta ray, developed by Northwestern Polytechnical University, plays a crucial role in protecting the coral reef ecosystem and driving advancements across diverse disciplines.

Coral reefs, often referred to as "underwater tropical rainforests," are indispensable elements of the marine ecosystem, crucial for upholding ecological balance and biodiversity in the oceans. In China, these coral reefs are concentrated within the South China Sea.

Unfortunately, coral reefs are currently confronting severe threats to their survival. Recent reports indicate that the world is undergoing its second global coral bleaching event within a decade, caused by elevated ocean temperatures resulting from climate change. Therefore, the ecological protection of coral reefs is urgent.

"In our research on developing biomimetic robot, we came across many species we could learn from, each with its unique characteristics. A manta ray can swim forwards and backwards, execute tight turns, dive, and even perform backflips. Overall, with its stability and flexibility, the manta ray was the best of all the subjects we studied," said Qu Yilin, a researcher in the School of Marine Science and Technology at Northwestern Polytechnical University.

The researcher highlighted the effectiveness of the biomimetic "manta ray" in monitoring coral reefs, including observing the health status of fish and conducting hydrological monitoring and data gathering.

"With its advantages, the biomimetic robot plays a crucial role in many scenarios, including the ecological protection of coral reefs - an essential component of the oceans but currently facing threats to their survival. The biomimetic robot has a flexible structure and moves in virtually the same way as a real manta ray, making it highly effective in monitoring the protection of coral reefs. Its non-disruptive interaction with fish enables the observation of their health status," Qu said.

"Furthermore, it exhibits a high level of maneuverability, enabling it to work in complex underwater conditions and carry out tasks such as hydrological monitoring and the collection of health-related data," he said.

The development of this biomimetic robot holds the potential to advance underwater vehicles and broaden the horizons of diverse disciplines, the researcher said.

"The process of manufacturing and perfecting this biomimetic robot has, in fact, developed several new interdisciplinary fields. This may contribute to the development of more underwater vehicles and even wider fields. We are fortunate to live in an era with excellent research tools and a multitude of novel research topics. There is an ample scope for us to explore, invent, and create," Qu said.

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