Giant crab robot to walk ocean bed

Now the monsters of the ocean will have to contend with a man-made crab as the Cbrabster CR200 is released into the deep. This over-half-a-tonne-weight, six legged robot is intended for the most dangerous undersea exploration, reports CNN.

This Crabster, developed by the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), offers a solution to longstanding problem. The propeller driven craft cannot work in the fierce tides and are limited to calm, relatively shallow seas, this new machine braves all these odds.

The Crabster is 2.4m long, 2.4m wide and 1.3m tall -- rising to 1.8m when it stands up. Including payload it weighs around 650 kg, and its six legs contain 30 motors, giving the remote pilot ample control and dexterity. As the Crabster creeps along the ocean floor, it can adapt its posture to different current or pressure conditions, to a depth of around 200 meters. Using sonar, it scans the landscape for objects of interest, and can relay images through onboard cameras.

CR200 will help divers or work instead of them in harsh environments. It also could assist in locating underwater resources.

Bong Huan Jun, Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology

Crabster is undergoing final tests in "aggressive waters" ahead of its first mission. In May, it will be hunting for ancient artifacts in the Yellow Sea, where existing crafts have failed.

Lead researcher Bong Huan Jun told CNN the machine had performed "very well" in tests, but was undergoing constant modification.

"We are performing tests nearly every day," Huan Jun told CNN. "We upgrade Crabster software for more stable and fast walking and manipulation."

The researcher says the robot's speed of just 10 cm/second is one of the main challenges his team face, along with enhancing the vehicle's stability in strong currents and on rough terrain. The underwater vision system is another priority. But should Crabster succeed in its maiden voyage, Huan Jun predicts a widespread impact.