“Penguins” will protect the Kerch Bridge from saboteurs
Russian intelligence services have tested unique autonomous surface-underwater robotic systems “Penguin”, which should protect the Kerch Bridge facilities from enemy saboteurs, terrorists and improvised explosive devices, Izvestia reports.
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The product, developed by the MAKO research and production group, thanks to the miniature Hydra sonars installed on board, is capable of detecting explosive devices and enemy divers hiding in the intricacies of underwater hydraulic structures, the publication notes.
The underwater drone underwent a series of tests at one of the hydraulic structures on the Volga, and then in the construction area of the Kerch Bridge to Crimea, a source familiar with the situation told the newspaper.
“Having completed a series of dives, the robot transmitted to the shore point of the facility’s security units a clear picture of what was happening on the seabed in the construction area,” the source said. “The robot’s sonar systems not only recorded traces of previously carried out work at the base of the bridge, but also detected objects lying under the bottom soil and found improvised explosive devices hidden by the organizers of the exercises in plastic containers.”
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“On the surface of the water, the one and a half meter Penguin looks like an inverted surfboard, where the tail fin is not lowered into the water, but sticks out 80 cm above it,” the publication describes the drone. – The device moves at a speed of 12 knots - a little more than 20 km/h and can automatically dive to a depth of 500 m. Autonomous operating time is six hours. But the heart of the newest underwater robot is a miniature Hydra sonar, whose sensors are slightly larger than an ordinary ballpoint pen.”
The tests were considered successful, and the issue of starting deliveries of the latest underwater robotic systems is currently being decided.
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