U.S Navy’s Latest 5 ft Robotic ‘Ghost Swimmer’ Shark

People taking a swim off Virginia Beach waters shouldn’t fear if they spot a dorsal fin of a shark in the waters, as it might be the newest tech of the U.S Navy.

The robotic shark, also termed the Ghostswimmer, was built by the Boston Engineering team as part of the U.S Navy’s NEMO Project.

Under this program, the Navy encourages the construction of nature-inspired naval vessels.

The robot shark measures 5 ft lengthwise and weighs around 100 lbs. It moves like a real shark, and also looks like one, given its swinging tail.

It swims in depths as shallow as 10 inches and up to 300 ft.

The operator can control its movements through a 500 ft tether connected to a laptop. It can also function autonomously as it has sensors and a battery that lasts a long time.

The shark can transfer videos and other data it collects to the operator in real time. It can also record the data and transmit it once it comes to the shore.

What makes it different from other naval ships is its ability to camouflage in the marine environment, making it difficult to identify.

It moves quietly, without making a sound, which is another great stealth feature, making it ideal for surveillance, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.

The robot shark can also be used for inspecting ships’ hulls and also for collecting data related to tides, currents, wakes, weather and health of other marine species that it comes in contact with.

Hence, the robot ghost swimmer shark of the U.S Navy has a lot of potential.