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The Blue Whale, an unmanned submarine with artificial intelligence, maps the seabed with precision, collects climate data and operates underwater for 30 days; launched by China.
In a move that reinforces its leadership in T advanced maritime technologies, China has officially unveiled the Blue Whale, its first high-speed unmanned submarine.
Capable of operating underwater for up to 30 consecutive days and navigating in extreme weather conditions, the vehicle represents a technological leap in scientific and environmental missions.
The launch took place in the southern city of Zhuhai, with information released by the international press and the state-run Xinhua news agency.
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Blue Whale Submarine: China unveils unmanned vehicle that maps the seabed in record time
Measuring 11 meters long and weighing 12 tons, the Blue Whale was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences for civilian applications, such as monitoring meteorological phenomena that can affect large coastal populations.
Its design includes an autonomous system based on artificial intelligence, allowing real-time decisions to avoid environmental risks and collect strategic data.
According to scientist Chen Dake, involved in the project, the submarine offers “strategic support for ocean exploration” and raises the bar for global ocean research.
The Blue Whale's biggest differentiator is the integration of deep learning algorithms, which optimize the vessel's performance in complex environments.
“The submarine is three times more efficient than manual systems,” explained Wu Guosong, chief engineer at Yunzhou.
This intelligent system allows the vehicle to program missions, plot routes and switch operational strategies based on real-time environmental variables.
Equipped for extreme weather and scientific data collection
The Blue Whale can reach 36 knots of speed on the surface and dive rapidly to depths of up to 60 meters, escaping intense storms.
The hybrid propulsion system — combining water jets and magnetic fluid — ensures agility and control even in rough seas, while the acoustic coating reduces noise to the level of the marine environment.
During tests in the South China Sea, the submarine mapped 3.000 km² in just 15 days, exceeding the speed of a submarine by five times. ships traditional research methods.
Multifunctional platform for exploration and monitoring
The Blue Whale's structure can carry more than 20 types of scientific equipment, including underwater radars, cameras, bioacoustic sensors and water samplers.
A high-resolution sonar system allows detailed mapping of the seabed, and the underwater profiler can detect reserves of oil, natural gas and methane hydrates.
Additionally, the Blue Whale submarine can strategically position itself in the path of typhoons, launching rockets with atmospheric sensors to collect meteorological data in real time.
