US to Test 'Submarine' Drone That Can Launch from Ocean Floor
USA’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is testing a drone that can hibernate on the ocean floor for years at a time before being launched to the surface and into the air at the push of a button.
The new drones, being developed by the DARPA, are part of a new focus by the US military in developing and improving technology for emerging threats.
According to DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar, the Agency is trying to approach military technology needs with a new perspective, after having focused primarily on assets for ground wars in the past 14 years.
The Upward Falling Payloads (UFP) program will therefore be one of several other research projects DARPA will focus on as a means of revolutionizing the US Military’s maritime strategy.
These deployable, unmanned systems and sensors can theoretically lie on the deep-ocean floor for years at time in anticipation of the US Navy’s need for non-lethal assistance. When needed, the deep-sea nodes can be activated remotely and recalled to the surface.
The drones wouldn't require fuel, as they would be powered with energy generated by ocean currents. Ocean drones would be difficult to manufacture, however, because researchers would need to figure out how to activate the drone, how to help the drone breach the surface and making sure the drone is protected in salt water for large periods.
