China has started operating an underwater drone with artificial intelligence. The presentation of the Blue Whale, the world's first high—speed unmanned underwater vehicle of a new type, took place in Zhuhai, China. The drone is 11 meters long and weighs more than 10 tons.
An underwater drone with artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched in China, writes the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Chinese engineers have launched the Blue Whale high-speed underwater drone, which can operate autonomously in very difficult ocean conditions. The development of the underwater drone started in June 2024.
According to the SCMP, the Blue Whale drone is capable of reaching speeds of up to 36 knots (i.e. 66 km/h) on the water surface, as well as diving underwater to avoid extreme weather conditions such as typhoons. It can stay under water in a static state for more than a month.
An IT decision-making system based on artificial intelligence (AI) implemented on board the drone uses deep learning algorithms. This circumstance, according to Wu Guosong, chief engineer of the underwater drone project, makes it possible to triple productivity in difficult ocean conditions compared to traditional control.
According to Chen Duck, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the launch of the Blue Whale was a milestone in China's independent innovation in marine science. After completion, the device will undergo a series of tests in port waters and on the high seas. The vessel is expected to be commissioned in 2026.
Possible applications of the underwater drone include meteorology, underwater mapping, photography, water sampling and infrastructure inspections, for example, during maintenance of underwater cables.
Wu Gosong, the chief engineer of the submarine project, stressed that the Blue Whale can place meteorological rockets and sensors near the epicenters of typhoons to collect critical data on the atmosphere and ocean.
An electric underwater drone from Kongsberg (Norway) successfully passed half a month of tests in mid-2024. The drone can stay 15 days underwater at a depth of 6 km and be used for reconnaissance and surveillance. The submarine was first tested in March 2023.
The underwater drone Endurance is the largest in the family of drones produced by Kongsberg's subsidiary, Kongsberg Discovery. It was first launched in 2021 and is equipped with various modular sensors and equipment such as a high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (HISAS 1032 Dual RX) capable of obtaining wide-band images, a multipath echo sounder (EM 2040 MkII), a bottom bottom profiling system, a color camera and a laser profiler. It is also equipped with a magnetometer and environmental sensors that collect data on conductivity, temperature, speed of sound, concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen.
The drone has a spacious and customizable interior, in which, if necessary, various batteries and other payloads can be stored. It is designed for autonomous operation from shore, and with a full set of batteries it will provide a range of up to 1.2 thousand nautical miles (2.2 thousand km) and stay at sea for up to 15 days. It can also independently explore 1.1 thousand square kilometers of the ocean floor at a maximum depth of 6 thousand meters.
"Endurance can accommodate any payload desired by the customer. It is designed for mapping, seabed survey, oceanography, monitoring of critical underwater infrastructure or changes in ecosystems," the company's representatives explained.
Kongsberg employees told Interesting Engineering that the military, as well as representatives of the commercial sector, were very interested in the device. The completion of the tests will allow the development company to start fulfilling orders.
