China’s Underwater Robot Contest Highlights Latest Technological Advances
Teams from across China recently showcased the most cutting-edge developments in underwater robotics during the final of the 2023 China Underwater Robot Professional Contest. The event took place in Dalian, at the beautiful coastal waters of Jinshitan National Tourist Resort in Liaoning province. The contest not only demonstrated the progress made in underwater robotic technology but also highlighted the potential for human-machine collaboration and intelligent operations.
The competition featured the application of new technologies such as binocular vision-based recognition, millimeter-wave technology, and intelligent operation. Participating teams had to navigate challenging conditions, including strong winds and rough waves, prompting them to upgrade their robots to ensure more accurate grasping and retrieval of specific items.
One noteworthy team was OurEDA II from Dalian University of Technology, whose robot successfully retrieved 40 items, including scallops, abalone, and other marine products within the given time frame. Fan Zhichen, a member of the team, stated that their robot’s structure and algorithms were specifically optimized for these challenging conditions.
With over 21 teams competing, OurEDA II secured the top spot in the human-machine collaboration and grasping category. Fan proudly shared that this particular robot is their eighth-generation creation and was independently designed and developed as a lightweight underwater digital working robot. Its modular design and accompanying upper control system have greatly contributed to its success.
The contest was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, along with the city government of Dalian and Pengcheng Laboratory. Since its inception in 2017, the competition has evolved into a high-level underwater intelligent robot competition conducted in a real offshore environment. Jiang Xinghai, deputy director of Dalian’s science and technology bureau, explained that the event has been instrumental in advancing research and development in underwater robot control, operations and communication, intelligent sensors, and comprehensive positioning and navigation systems.
Significant progress has been made as a result of the competition, with over 100 related patents generated, leading to technological advancements and commercialization in the field of underwater robotics. Additionally, a high-level forum on artificial intelligence and underwater robotics was held during the contest, promoting industrial exchanges and collaborations in marine intelligent equipment.
The forum witnessed research teams from various universities signing strategic cooperation agreements with marine farming and underwater robotics development companies. This collaboration aims to foster further advancements in the industry by combining the expertise of academic institutions with the practical know-how of industry professionals.
China’s Underwater Robot Contest showcased the latest technological achievements in the field and emphasized the importance of continuous innovation. As the industry continues to grow, these advancements will contribute to enhancing underwater operations, communication, and exploration, ultimately benefiting sectors such as marine farming, environmental monitoring, and offshore infrastructure development.
