Hull-crawling robot could 'groom' biofilms

摘要

SeaRobotics Corporation in the US has been working on a concept it calls Hull Bio-inspired Underwater Grooming system (HullBUG) for some time, and it recently delivered the first example of the machine for testing. HullBUG is an autonomous, hull-crawling biofilm 'grooming' robot that removes biofilms. The company said studies undertaken by the US Navy suggest significant fuel savings could be achieved through the use of what it calls a "proactive grooming process" - a frequent, gentle cleaning cycle intended to reduce hull fouling.