This robotic invention, which mimics the speed, stealth and gracefulness of a fish while allowing for improved underwater operations, is NTU's catch of the day.

With fins attached to a motor that's encased in a cylindrical body, this underwater biomimetic robot, or machine that can mimic organisms, literally glides underwater like a fish.

And with such features, it is highly manoeuvrable and stealthy, and thus suitable for marine studies, commercial inspection of man-made structures, and even military surveillance operations.

Created by a team of researchers and students from NTU's School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE), the project took two years and about $20,000 to be realised. But it was all worth it when it won the top award at an international robotics conference in Hong Kong in July last year.

Singapore's first underwater vehicle with mimetic fin features
Unlike conventional underwater vehicles that are tethered and remotely controlled from a surface ship by a human operator, NTU's biomimetic invention is tetherless - with modular, scalable and reconfigurable fins - and can undertake underwater missions by remote control. This makes it easier to use and also safer for underwater operations.

Moreover, the robot, which is Singapore's first underwater vehicle with mimetic fin features, is an independent self-propelled system because of its innovative fin features, and so does not require expensive dedicated surface support. This could lower the cost of underwater operations.

NTU's biomimetic underwater vehicle is also much quieter and more environmentally-friendly - it will not disturb the underwater marine environment by kicking up sand, and also does not cause any pollution.

"This invention could potentially have many exciting applications in the field of marine study, defence or recreation purposes," says MAE's Assoc Prof Low Kin Huat, who led the project.

"Our team is excited to have come up with this breakthrough and hope it will bring about valuable benefits to the general public and industry in Singapore or overseas."

© Corporate Communications Office