'Helicopter' in the sea

US experts have just run a test of a new submarine that can 'hover' underwater like a helicopter in the air.

The Odyssey IV, built by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) experts, is the latest in a series of small, inexpensive and smart submarines. The ship was born in the Laboratory of Automatic Aquatic Vehicles under the Marine Research Grant Program of MIT. Odyssey IV allows applications such as oil rig exploration, observations of oceanic flora and fauna populations and other oceanographic studies.

Previous types of Odyssey submarines could only operate while constantly moving forward, but the Odyssey IV overcame this drawback. It can move under depths of up to 6,000 meters, stopping anywhere in the water and often adjusting itself to the flow of water as well as to avoid obstacles. According to expert Chryssostomos Chryssostomidis (of the Marine Research Grant Program of MIT), the Odyssey IV can "hover" in a helicopter-like manner to a certain area in the deep sea and conduct detailed surveys. . 'Previously, you could only drive a submarine to a scene, take a photo, and repeat this action if you wanted to take another picture. Now, I can stop at a place I like, stay there and perform observing or measuring activities, ' he said.

Last summer, the Odyssey IV submarine first demonstrated its ability in the first scientific mission to explore the Gulf of Georges Bank area of ​​Maine, which is very important for the region's seafood industry. this. The ability of the Odyssey IV vessel does not stop at observing objects through the camera system. It also has a robotic arm that can 'unload' underwater goods like a large-sized helicopter or even open / close valve of an oil rig. 'We can visit an oil well, take a sample and bring it to the shore for testing,' said Chryssostomidis. Not only gliding, the ship can also move quickly at speeds of up to 2 meters per second. Both the ability to surf quickly and stop on the spot is achieved through the coordination of the 'fins' and propulsion (similar to the rocket repulsion) on either side of the train wall, as well as the nose and tail parts This ship is 2 meters long.

After the first tests, Odyssey IV manufacturers are focused on developing more power and communications storage capabilities so that the vessel can stay underwater longer, 'covering' one. Larger geological areas and more data sent to the mainland. The ultimate goal of the researchers is that the Odyssey IV can stay for 1 year in the water, gathering and sending information about the land 'base' quickly without going back to the surface.