Science or fiction? Bionic jellyfish setting out to conquer the seabed

Knowing the condition of the oceans better thanks to augmented jellyfish, that’s the idea developed by John Dabiri, a professor of aeronautics and mechanical engineering at Caltech, California Institute of Technology.

Inspired by nature and these invertebrates’ swimming movement, the researchers first of all created a robot that reproduces the propulsion of jellyfish, but without equalling the efficiency of their natural movements. The engineers then said to themselves: why not use actual jellyfish?

Because as John Dabiri explains, "Jellyfish are the original ocean explorers, reaching its deepest corners and thriving just as well in tropical or polar waters".

Indeed, they can be found in all of the world’s seas and at every depth. Jellyfish therefore have the ideal profile for exploring the oceans and gathering data on the temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels of the oceans, all of which are essential for understanding climate change, of which the oceans are a natural regulator.

To transform these jellyfish into spies of the seabed, the researchers fitted them with electronic devices that improve their movements, along with a “hat” placed on their bell that is equipped with sensors designed to collect data.

The tests carried out in tanks have demonstrated that, equipped in this way, the cyborg jellyfish travel 4.5 times faster than natural jellyfish. Their swimming performance is better, as is their buoyancy and they are maintained better in the upright position.

The researchers must ensure that this equipment can withstand extreme pressure levels so that the jellyfish, cyborgs of the future, can explore the oceans down to depths that humans would have difficulty reaching.