A team of researchers have created a robotic 'thinking' sea turtle without the use of a ballast system for the first time.

The new roboticturtle will be able to perform surveillance and energy harvesting and also detect nuclear wastes and navigate to areas that are deemed hazardous for humans. The new underwater robot will be among the most manoeuvrable and will help carry out many difficult missions in oceans and seas.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) team's turtle robot can also perform its programme duties while being able to react to exigencies and obstacles. The team led by Associate Professor S K Panda is completing the robotic sea turtle that will move about underwater, including diving to deeper depths vertically by using its front and hind limb gait movements.

Professor Panda said, "Our turtle robot does not use a ballast system which is commonly used in underwater robots for diving or sinking functions. Without this ballast system, it is much smaller and lighter, enabling it to carry bigger payloads so that it can perform more complicated tasks such as surveillance, water quality monitoring in Singapore reservoir or energy harvesting for long endurance."

He also said that the robot will be able to do a dynamic dive or sink vertically that will allow it to enter vertical tunnels or pipesin the seabed. It small size and light weight will enhance its energy efficiency and enable it to carry out difficult missions.