Soft-body Bionic ‘Manta Ray’ Submersible Drone Unveiled in China

A Chinese firm on Friday unveiled the world's first soft-body bionic ‘manta ray’ submersible that detects and locks onto underwater explosive devices in dark waters with visibility of less than one meter.

Equipped with a forward-looking sonar that penetrates darkness to pinpoint targets and a set of side-scan sonars that simultaneously maps the seabed, the soft-body bionic manta ray submersible transmits data on identified targets back to the command terminal screen instantly, per a report by the military channel of CCTV News.

It can be deployed to detect seabed mines and silent submarines among other threats.

The manta ray was chosen as the bionic design reference for a key reason. Unlike ordinary fish that sway left and right while swimming, the manta ray features a flat body and broad pectoral fins, propelling itself forward like waves undulating while keeping its main body nearly stationary.

This design grants the bionic manta ray ample internal space to carry complex mission payloads. Its stable locomotion also ensures the proper operation of sensitive equipment such as high-precision sonar, the report said.

In addition, the submersible boasts exceptional endurance, as its battery capacity supports full-speed navigation for dozens of hours, covering a range of hundreds of kilometers. When gliding by adjusting buoyancy, its range can extend to thousands of kilometers, the report said.

According to CCTV News, the submersible also demonstrates remarkable pressure resistance. Its core equipment is encased in a high-pressure-resistant hull, capable of withstanding deep-sea water pressure equivalent to about 200 atmospheres. Even if wired communication is cut off, the bionic manta ray will not lose its way in the deep sea and can autonomously approach its target.

The submersible is also capable of performing missions in groups. Multiple bionic manta rays can form a sonar "local area network" through relay cooperation, converting satellite signals into sonar signals that reach deep into the ocean.