Under the 863 Program's (the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China) main theme of robotic techniques, Harbin Engineering University and Gansu Great Wall Submarine High-tech Co. jointly invented an underwater robot to test dikes' security.

Recently, it succeeded in using a remote-control robotic trunk, with light, sound, magnetic multi-sensors and navigation sensors constituting a high-level combined exploratory capability, to form a TB-1 series dike-security under-water robot. In January, the robot had been deployed at six different spots of Yangtze Rive's Gezhou Dam to carry out functional and application experiments and obtained favorable results.

This robotic system can test and detect any structural changes on the surface and the inside of dikes and is usable for in both clean and muddy water environment, reaching depths as much as 300 meters under water.

The success of this robot filled a gap in China's under-water exploratory technology and provided a new and strong tool and method for the dike security needs of China's hydraulic and hydro-electric departments. The robot can also be extensively deployed in deep sea petroleum exploration, port construction, under-water rescue and salvage.

(chinanews June 9, 2005)