The underwater drone swims at a speed of 16 km/h and is equipped with a camera that transmits high-resolution images up to 1 km away.
Dubai Customs in the United Arab Emirates has unveiled a marine patrol robot resembling a dolphin. The Arabiya News website spoke about such an unusual development.
Custom Dolphin (“Dolphin”) from the company Dubai Customs has a small streamlined body and two retractable “fins”. It features a 12MP 4K camera and a robotic arm that rotates up to 220 degrees. The equipment allows the robot to transmit high-resolution photos or online video to the operator.
The dolphin robot accelerates to 16 km/h (8 knots), is equipped with a GPS satellite navigation system and is controlled by a radio remote control
Photo: alarabiya.net
The robot accelerates to 16 km / h (8 knots), is equipped with a GPS satellite navigation system and is controlled by a radio remote control at a distance of up to 1 km. Dubai customs officers are already using the Dolphin to patrol the sea near the city to monitor the movement of ships before entering the port and notice attempts to dump prohibited goods. Khalid al-Zaruni, head of innovation at Dubai Customs, said the maritime drone recently helped stop an illegal shipment in the UAE, but did not specify which one.
Authors of the Custom Dolphin project
In addition to underwater, customs officers use other drones. For example, Smart Deterrence quadcopters help inspect traditional wooden dhows, where smugglers often hide illegal cargo in bulkheads and hidden compartments. To protect against external damage, the device was surrounded by a round metal frame-cage. According to Khalid al-Zaruni, aircraft allow to protect the health of employees and canine dogs.
The drone can be equipped with a variety of scanners and high-resolution cameras
Photo: alarabiya.net
“Dhow ships arriving in the bay can create very dangerous situations, especially in the cargo hold, because the floor is very unstable and sometimes there are dangerous toxins,” explained the head of customs. “The drone is practically stationary and can be controlled using GPS. It can be equipped with various scanners and high-resolution cameras.”
Previously, we wrote about Bluebottle marine drones from Ocius Technology, which have been serving the Royal Australian Navy since early March. They float autonomously in the sea with a sail that also serves as a solar panel for charging, and transmit intelligence to the military over a long distance.
The UAE also unveiled the world’s first 3D-printed Hydra floating drone. Al Seer Marine has created a prototype drone weighing 350 kg, which in the future will be able to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance.
