Engineers have assembled an autonomous underwater drone that the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to use for long-range missions in the ocean, pictures show.
Dubbed “Manta Ray,” the drone is modeled after filter-feeding fish of the same name with diamond-shaped bodies and wing-like fins. The prototype, designed and built by the aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman, is an extra-large glider capable of operating long-duration, payloaded missions without needing on-board human support and maintenance.
Once deployed, the drone could also save energy by anchoring itself to the seabed and hibernating in a low-power mode.
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