Meet the Giant Lobster Robot that Will Save Your Life
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Meet the Crabster CR200 – one of the world’s largets autonomous underwater robots, 2.4 meters long and shaped like a giant lobster * The Crabster will carry out search and rescue mission along shores and at sea.
If you spend some time along the beaches of South Korea, and a gigantic crab suddenly appears from the depths – don’t be scared. The Crabster is there to help.
The South Korean KIOST technological institute recently completed the development of a new underwater robot, aimed at carrying out dangerous underwater missions as well as search and rescue operations. It’s shaped like a giant, six-legged crab. According to Sub Sea World News the robot is currently undergoing its final submersion and operation tests. During May the Crabster will be assigned to its first home – a major shipyard.
The head of the development team, Huan Job, gave more details in an interview with CNN: The robot is 2.4 meters long and weighs 650 kilograms, has six leggs and 30 engines. It can reach depths of up to 200 meters and move at a speed of 1.5 meters per second. It can remain underwater for days at a time. The Crabster’s main missions are search and rescue, mapping the ocean floor, scan ship debris and underwater pipelines, search for underwater natural resources and detect damage caused by oil leaks.
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
The robotic crab is suited for shallow beaches with strong currents as well as the depths. Most underwater robots use thrusters to move, but thrusters won’t function in strong currents.
The robot is remotely operated from a ground control station by a team of four: The main pilot who pilots the robot, the copilot in charge of the camera and lights, the navigator who lays out the robot’s course and the sonar engineer who operates the robot’s sonar and other sensors. The Crabster’s many sensors include high-resolution sonar, an acoustic camera, an acoustic doppler device, optic cameras, lighting systems and more.
