Singapore-MIT Institute of Science and Technology has recently developed a new type of sensor that resembles a seal beard. This sensor can help improve the safety of offshore oil exploration and ship navigation.

The beard's beard can detect the position and movement speed of other underwater objects, and can sense the subtle flow changes produced by fish swimming, thereby more effectively swimming and catching prey. Using these principles, the researchers developed a prototype of the seal beard and the hair follicle.

This sensor can detect objects even in dirty and dim waters, so it is more suitable for deep sea oil exploitation than traditional underwater sensors that rely on vision and hearing.

For example, oil extraction companies need to regularly inspect submerged tubing, but the procedures are too complex and can't be accomplished through underwater robots. It is extremely dangerous to send divers to the sea. With the development of the beard-type sensor, the underwater robot, as long as it is equipped with such a sensor, can sense the surrounding object through the change of the water flow, thereby bypassing the obstacle to obtain data.

In addition, this type of sensor can reduce the possibility of ship collision by sensing the slight disturbance caused by the movement of objects in the sea.