Categories: General Outdoor

From a distance it looks like a fish

From a distance it looks like a fish; it moves like a fish, but it’s an underwater spy vehicle used by the Navy to mimic the look and movements of a large fish.

The drone, a robot called GhostSwimmer, is the latest development from the Navy’s Silent Nemo project which seeks to develop unmanned, biometric vehicles for use underwater.

Since it doesn’t use a propeller to move like most submarine robots, it will be harder to detect when it is being used to spy in enemy waters, or patrol American maritime borders.

GhostSwimmer uses fins and a tail to move quietly through the water just like a real fish.

“This is an attempt to take thousands of years of evolution, what has been perfected since the dawn of time, and try to incorporate that into a mechanical device,” said project lead, Jerry Lademan.

At approximately five feet long and almost 100 pounds, the robot is capable of operating at depths up to 300 feet. The prototype was tested successfully last week at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia.

It can be remotely controlled by a joystick, or programmed to swim by itself.

 

 

Tom Behrens

Recent Posts

Three Things that Make Your Fishing Life Easier

Fishing is a hands-on activity for sure, and many of us don't necessarily want to…

14 hours ago

Lake Amistad “Infested” With Zebra Mussels

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has designated the International Amistad Reservoir in the…

1 day ago

Wildlife Crossing Project Move Forward For Sake of Bighorns

The Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) have secured…

1 day ago

Confirmation Made In Fatal Mountain Lion Attack

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed that the mountain lion euthanized…

1 day ago

Texas Youth Wins Austin Stevens Young Adventurer Award

Higher Calling Wildlife®, the youth conservation outreach founded by wildlife journalist and conservationist Chester Moore…

2 days ago

Texas State Parks Offer Eclipse Viewing Opportunity

Less than a month remains until the highly anticipated total eclipse adorns Texas skies. On…

2 days ago