'Smart' turtle robot can fix tasks under the water

A team of Indian-origin scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has finalised a 'smart' maneuvering robot that can be used for oceanic surveys, inspections of pipe and cable, ship hull or a propeller's shaft.

The team led by associate professor S.K Panda is currently giving the final touches to the robotic sea turtle which could move underwater and dive to deeper depths vertically, like a real turtle, by using its front and hind limbs gait movements.

In the near future, the team could produce a swarm of autonomous tiny robotic sea turtles to perform missions whicvh are too dangerous for humans, researchers noted in a statement.