Researchers at the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) have developed a giant robot crab that is approximately the size and weight of a Smart car, which will help scientists explore shipwrecks under the ocean’s surface.
The giant Crabster robot was built with the characteristics of crabs and lobsters, with six legs and 30 powerful joints that will help it to crawl around the sea floor, according to Gizmag. The two front legs act as arms and can pick up objects and store them in a frontal compartment. The team used computer simulations to streamline the robot’s “shell” so it would stabilize the Crabster under the force of currents up to 1.5m/s. By shifting its posture with its legs, the Crabster effectively reduces drag and increases lifting force, similar to how a real crab sticks out their arms to steady themselves.
The robot also features 10 optical cameras and scanning sonar that scans up to 200m away that helps the robot navigate. Crabster can remain on the sea floor as long as it has power through its external cable. Researchers from KIOST would ideally like the cable to be removed, and to perhaps even have the robot swim, according to Gizmag.
In approximately one month, the robot and its control station will be brought to waters off the coast of South Korea where it will be lowered 200m by crane to undergo its initial trials.
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