Octopus Inspired Submarine Is Fastest Underwater Vehicle Ever

by | Feb 10, 2015 | Science | 3 comments

scientists-develop-superfast-3d-printed-octopus-submarine-1A group of scientists from the University of Southampton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have developed a submarine that could help define new levels of underwater exploration. The submarine would be the fastest underwater vehicle ever developed. The super fast sub will be able to accelerate  from 0 to 60 miles per hour in one second.

The submarine’s propulsion system is inspired by the biology of the Octopus.  The vehicle will be built like a deformable octopus-like robot with a 3D printed skeleton with no moving parts and no energy storage device other than a thin elastic outer hull. The sub’s unique design allows it to inflate and deflate through water moving from the base much like an octopus’ siphon. Unlike conventional submarines powered by large engines and propellers, this sub has very few moving moving parts. By using this method of propulsion, the vehicle will be able to maneuver around obstacles like coral reefs with ease. MORE

3 Comments

  1. Butternut Squash

    This is science? Aren’t children doing this a bath time? How likely was this a government-funded project.

    A meaningless project would be to answer, “How does the sub go the next 10 feet?”

    Reply
    • Terry

      Maybe that’s the next question to be answered…take a chill pill dude your taking things way to seriously.

      Reply
    • Fraser Macaree

      What an unconstructive comment. Its a research project, maybe the initial acceleration is the hardest to overcome and the rest of its propulsion is provided by the waste gasses spewing from your mouth.

      Reply

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