Us military has used robot dogs to patrol areas and even sniping guns. Now, with a special tail-kit, these dogs will be able to swim across small water bodies too.
, this add-on can move Vision 60 at a top speed of three knots and keep it swimming for up to 35 minutes.
While this might not seem like much, it is pertinent to remember that the Vision 60 was not designed to be an underwater drone, and swimming wasn't a capability it had previously had. Onyx's NAUT adds this new ability, working with what the robot has or shutting off what it does not need. As can be seen in the video above, the legs of the robot are neatly tucked under its body since they are excessive to the swimming activity. Instead, NAUT uses a water jet for its propulsion, making it versatile in a wide range of water-based scenarios. Vision 60 comes with an IP67 rating, so even with NAUT, it should be able to tread waters no more than three feet deep. Last year, Ghost Robotics unveiled a version of Vision 60, which was.
Since Vision 60 can be remotely piloted, its newfound ability to swim can help a military unit scout a landmass safely across a river or lake from the other end. The water body itself may be riddled with mines, and an amphibious robot could very well be able to figure out a safe path without putting any lives in danger.
Even in the case of a natural disaster, like a flood, an amphibious robot dog could be deployed to scan areas that remain out of reach. Stay ahead with the latest science, technology and innovation news, for free: