JODHPUR: IIT Jodhpur has developed a control system and design for a hybrid unmanned vehicle which can operate both in air and in water. Such vehicles are essential for tasks like mapping oil spills in seas, or underwater erosion and pollution dispersion. They can also assist in rescue efforts and underwater and aerial photography.
So far, the tests have been done as simulations but the IIT team hopes to do outdoor testing soon. They plan to construct a prototype with more buoyancy functions in water.
The team has developed this system by taking inspiration from a species of bird, Anhinga, which is able to move both on land and underwater. The prototype has been tested for aerial, water surface, and underwater maneuvering using Remote Control (RC) transmission.
Jayant Kumar Mohanta, assistant professor (mechanical engineering), said that this prototype can sail like a ship on the surface of water, fly in the air, and also navigate when submerged in water.
"It has a flying time of 15 minutes and can stay underwater for 8 hours. Technology is with a very few countries, like the USA and China," he said.
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