US works on Robo-Tuna to carry out security measures underwater

Move over, RoboCop. Here comes Robo-tuna. The US Department of Homeland Security has commissioned building a robotic tuna as an unmanned underwater vehicle to maneuver in harsh environments. An article on ScienceSpaceRobots.com said the robot tuna, to be officially called BIOSwimmer, will take design cues from the tuna to let it navigate underwater. "It can inspect the interior voids of ships such as flooded bilges and tanks, and other hard to reach external areas. The DHS tuna bot will also inspect and protect harbors and piers and carry out important security missions," the article said. Developing the BIOSwimmer is Boston Engineering Corporation's Advanced Systems Group (ASG) in Waltham, Massachusetts. BIOSwimmer program manager David Taylor, who is with DHS S&T's Borders and Maritime Security Division, said this is "all about distilling the science." "It's called 'biomimetics.' We're using nature as a basis for design and engineering a system that works exceedingly well," he said. Taylor added tuna have had millions of years to develop their ability to move in the water with astounding efficiency. "Hopefully we won't take that long," he said. — LBG, GMA News