China Deploys 4500-Meter Deep-Sea Robot for South China Sea Research
China has launched its domestically developed 4500-meter deep-sea robot for a scientific expedition in the South China Sea. The robot addresses over 30 key technologies for underwater operations.
A Chinese-developed deep-sea robot capable of operating at depths of 4500 meters has set sail for a scientific expedition in the South China Sea. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is equipped with a self-developed seven-axis multi-functional hydraulic manipulator arm.
The robot has overcome more than 30 key technologies, including deep-sea pressure-resistant sealing, high-power propulsion in deep water, long-distance underwater communication, and multimodal autonomous navigation. It is designed to perform complex tasks such as deep-sea oil and gas development, seabed pipeline inspection, mineral resource exploration, underwater scientific sampling, and emergency salvage.
The expedition aims to validate the robot's system performance under operational conditions and further refine the verification system for deep-sea equipment. Project lead Tao Zewen stated that the core software and hardware are entirely domestically controlled, with a future goal of reducing the application costs of Chinese deep-sea equipment. This initiative supports China's national strategy for deep-sea resource security and maritime power development.
The robot, model VY150, is a collaborative effort between Shandong Future Robot Co., Ltd. and the Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai) Robot Institute. It is described as China's first batch of mass-produced 4500-meter work-class deep-sea robots, with thousands of its components being domestically manufactured. Its maximum operational depth is 4500 meters, with potential expansion to 6000 meters.