Istanbul Technical University students have developed an underwater drone that has unique capabilities to perform many tasks, most notably the exploration of underground resources.
The course, which the students called "Detector", is used for many tasks such as underwater surveys, deep-sea excavations, search and rescue operations, installation, maintenance and repair of offshore platforms and underwater pipelines, surveying of habitats (colonies of marine organisms) in the depths and exploration of underground resources.
Hasan Fatih, a computer engineering student, told Anadolu Agency that he worked for two years in a team affiliated with Istanbul Technical University concerned with developing underwater robots.
Fateh stated that the team has been working for about 6 years to develop underwater unmanned vehicles, noting that the development of the "Kashef" vehicle took two years of research and development activities before production and then a test phase of a year and a half.
Multiple tasks
Fateh, a third-year student, stated that "Kashef" is a marine vehicle capable of conducting technical and structural analyzes and exploring underground resources and the like in the depths.
"At the same time, this march can act as a companion for ships on cruises. It can perform underwater technical tasks such as welding, pipe installation and picking up objects thanks to the robotic arms at the front," he added.
He pointed out that the new unmanned vehicle can operate in cold water and high pressure depths that divers cannot reach.
"So far, we have been able to descend to depths of 150-200 meters in our tests. When you add more different materials to the vehicle, it can go underwater to 3,500 meters in the most difficult conditions."
Fateh explained that the march "can carry out tasks in these depths such as searching for mines and other various other tasks, including the tasks of exploration for oil and underground resources."
Hasan Fatih, a computer engineering student, worked for two years in a team at Istanbul Technical University concerned with developing underwater robots (Anadolu Agency)
suitable alternative
Fateh pointed out that the march is equipped with a sonar device that helps in exploring depths using sound wave technology and conducting structural analysis tests.
"The march can carry out vital tasks in sensitive places such as pipelines transporting oil under water, pipelines transporting potable water from Turkey to the island of Cyprus, welding work and other similar tasks," he added.
He pointed out that the march can carry out various repair work, map areas of the depths, predict underwater threats, work at depths where humans cannot operate, and carry out risky tasks instead of humans.
He stressed that the unmanned vehicle was produced with local capabilities and expertise, and that it is capable of performing high-level tasks on an industrial scale.
He explained that the march has high capabilities to discover hidden sea mines, and that this type of march will gain great importance in the coming years.