A robotic dolphin has been created to combat oil spills
Researchers at Australia’s RMIT University have developed a compact robot for cleaning up oil spills. The prototype is shaped like a dolphin and can move across the water’s surface, independently collecting oil.
The project is called the Electronic Dolphin, and the robot is no larger than a sneaker. At the front of the robot, a pump draws in a mixture of water and oil through a filter, separating it into an internal reservoir. The key technology lies in the use of a filter coated with microscopic spikes, reminiscent of a sea urchin. These spikes trap air pockets, allowing water to roll off the surface and oil to adhere to the material. This allows the robot to collect oil while retaining virtually no water.
In laboratory tests, the prototype collected approximately 2 ml of oil per minute with a purity of over 95%. Currently, the robot runs on battery power for approximately 15 minutes. In future versions, researchers plan to add the ability to automatically return to base, clean internal tanks, and resume operations.
