{
  "id": 7297894,
  "title": "China shows a lifelike underwater robo-fish",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/china-shows-a-lifelike-underwater-robo-fish",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-14T10:02:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/china-shows-a-lifelike-underwater-robo-fish-golden-dragon-fish-after-earlier-developing-robo-shark-for-militar/articleshow/134237905.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has introduced a human-like underwater robot, the BG-5 Golden Dragon Fish, showcasing the nation's growing investment in biomimetic robotics. The compact device was displayed at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, located in Beijing's Shougang Park. The robot's engineering is inspired by the golden arowana fish.\n\nThe BG-5 differs from conventional underwater drones that rely on propellers, using a flexible, multi-jointed tail to propel itself through water, replicating the fluid motion of a swimming fish. According to Chinese news source Jimu News, the robot is not confined to a pre-programmed path. Equipped with onboard sensors, it can detect obstacles and autonomously adjust its course, making it more versatile in changing underwater environments and potentially useful for remote-operated applications.\n\nThe BG-5 is compact, measuring 640 mm in length, 204 mm in width, and 90 mm in height, with a weight of approximately 3 kg. It boasts a maximum operating depth of 5 meters and a top speed of 0.6 meters per second. Its tail, divided into seven segments, allows for propulsion via a wave-like motion rather than a rotating propeller.\n\nThe unique fish-shaped design isn't merely aesthetic; biomimetic robots draw from naturally evolved solutions found in animals. Fish, for instance, can efficiently move through water with minimal effort. A robot patterned after these creatures may be able to operate in areas where traditional underwater vehicles struggle. The BG-5's small size also proves advantageous in shallow or confined areas, potentially facilitating deployment in hard-to-reach locations.\n\nIn addition to the BG-5, Boyagongdao Marine Technology Group introduces the BG-5V, featuring more advanced capabilities such as path planning, task allocation, formation control, and cooperation among multiple robots. This could pave the way for underwater robots to work collaboratively, dividing tasks, coordinating movements, and covering diverse areas during missions. The technology goes beyond a solitary robotic fish; it suggests a broader concept involving fleets of miniature, autonomous underwater machines communicating and coordinating their activities.\n\nThe technology has garnered interest due to Boyagongdao's ties to defense-related underwater robotics. The company has contributed to a national defense key special project involving an underwater biomimetic detection platform and developed the ROBO-SHARK biomimetic underwater robot in collaboration with a military unit, as reported by the World Robot Conference. Consequently, questions have arisen about potential defense applications for these fish-like autonomous underwater robots. While the BG-5's small body, autonomous obstacle avoidance, and fish-inspired propulsion may suit shallow-water surveillance and reconnaissance, its effectiveness in military missions remains unverified. At present, the Golden Dragon Fish stands as a compelling showcase of how robotics researchers are increasingly turning to nature for inspiration, highlighting the growing significance of biomimetic robotics.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}