Innovative Manta Ray-Shaped Bionic Fish Unveiled By Shanghai Ocean University

Shanghai Ocean University recently made headlines with the unveiling of an intelligent soft-bodied bionic fish, named Wen Yao, marking a significant milestone after more than a decade of dedicated research and development. This innovative creation, inspired by the manta ray, spans 1 metre in wingspan and weighs 35 kilogrammes. Notably, it incorporates all domestically produced key components, highlighting China's advancements in bionic technology and manufacturing capabilities.

The development of Wen Yao showcases a blend of high efficiency, minimal energy consumption, versatile functionality, and exceptional mobility. Chen Xinjun, the head of the university's School of Marine Living Resources and Management, emphasized the meticulous efforts in mimicking the real fish's form, movement, structure, and materials. This has led to achieving a biological outer contour fitting and dynamic motion simulation that mirrors the natural movements of manta rays closely.

One of the standout features of this bionic fish is its potential applications across various sectors. With its high efficiency, energy-saving capabilities, low noise production, and stealthiness, Wen Yao is poised to make significant contributions to ocean fishing, deep-sea exploration, and other marine-related fields. This innovation is expected to bolster the marine economy and aid in national sovereignty defense.

Equipped with high-precision sensors, imaging sonar scanning devices, and other artificial intelligence technologies, Wen Yao offers a promising solution for underwater monitoring and analysis. Its big payload space allows for more flexible operations at lower costs compared to traditional methods. The research team at Shanghai Ocean University has not stopped with manta rays; they have also explored other forms of bionic fish including models inspired by dolphins and moray eels.

In a move to further advance this technology and explore market applications, the university has entered into agreements with a Shanghai-based company for the joint development of soft-bodied bionic fish. Looking ahead, there are plans to equip these bionic fishes with smart chips to enhance their capabilities further. This technological advancement is expected to support various sectors including marine science, environmental protection, and economic development.

The introduction of Wen Yao by Shanghai Ocean University represents a significant leap forward in the field of bionics and marine technology. With its innovative design and potential wide-ranging applications, this bionic fish stands as a testament to the progress being made in understanding and harnessing the capabilities of marine life for technological and economic advancements.

With inputs from WAM