Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Mandi and Palakkad have developed a marine robot that can cater to real-time problems and reduce maintenance cost and death risk for underwater operation scenarios.

The robot was developed by researchers at the IIT Mandi and Palakkad The research, partially financed by the Naval Research Board (NRB) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The cutting-edge robot was designed for rigorous underwater surveillance and inspections, promising enhanced effectiveness, reduced hazards, and potential financial savings.

A small percentage of the ocean floor and the submerged ecosystem are known to man, with the oceans holding about 96.5 per cent of all the Earth's water.

"As understood from history, the ocean interior has been mainly observed using instruments lowered from research ships," Jagadeesh Kadiyam, Assistant Professor, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at IIT Mandi .

Kadiyam, a co-author of the study, said typical ship cruises lasted a month or two, therefore making the detailed monitoring of oceans limited.

"It is often said that ocean variables do not wait for the ship to come for measurements,” says Kadiyam.

“Our research focuses on the prototype development and performance investigations of an underwater vehicle for intervention and inspection applications. A novel framework has been designed and implemented to cater to the various missions in the oceans and inland waters,” adds Kadiyam.

The number of submerged structures is increasing due to the advent of new technologies and the rapid expansion of existing infrastructure for defense or civil purposes. Therefore, regular inspection, upkeep, and repair of these structures are essential.