ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian engineers have developed a unique autonomous surface drone designed to enhance safety and efficiency of underwater operations for divers, local media reported Wednesday.
The drone, described as a self-propelled assistant surface platform for divers, enables continuous tracking of a diver's position and maintains communication, TASS news agency reported, citing the press service of St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University (SPbSMTU).
The drone is an autonomous two-thruster surface robot equipped with an electronic navigation module, radio antennas, hydroacoustic systems, sensors, controllers, a battery pack and lighting for operations above and below the water, according to the press service.
A key innovation of the Russian project is its integration of hydroacoustic direction finding with an autonomous surface robot, enabling it to accompany a diver without physical tethering and relay data for underwater vehicles, said Andrei Nazarov, head of SPbSMTU's Marine Electronic Systems Research Sector.
Unlike traditional methods that require several people to monitor a diver using buoys, radio links and visual tracking, the new device operates independently without cables that might interfere with underwater tasks, the university said.
Engineers successfully tested a prototype of the device, which is intended to serve as a visual marker and communication hub in challenging conditions, said the press service.
It said the prototype demonstrated stable performance during trials, reaching GPS-designated points and detecting an acoustic beacon even in harsh conditions such as low temperatures and floating ice, and showing abilities to maneuver, hold position, navigate and perform hydroacoustic tracking. ■