Not too long ago we heard about the Loon Copter, a land-based quadcopter that can go into the water and “fly” beneath the surface. Well, a team at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has created something that’s sort of the opposite. It’s a drone that’s based underwater, but that can make flights above the surface as needed.
The craft is known as CRACUNS, which stands for Corrosion Resistant Aerial Covert Unmanned Nautical System – that name is also a nod to the legendary sea monster, the Kraken.
When not needed, it can sit unseen on a stationary base up to several hundred feet below the surface, or even on the deck of an unmanned underwater vehicle. Lab tests have shown that it can remain submerged in salt water for up to two months, and still work fine.
via Gizmag
Image: Johns Hopkins APL
