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Technology

China plans world's first deep sea base, complete with robot subs

By Yvaine Ye

6 March 2019

Submarine

Robot submarines will help probe the briny depths

Liu Shiping/Xinhua/Eyevine

IMAGINE a structure thousands of metres under the ocean surface that is home to autonomous robots. One by one, the vehicles leave, mapping terrain and looking for unusual creatures.

We know very little about life at these depths, but such robots could uncover a bit more with every trip. As their power runs low, they return to tell HQ what they have discovered and recharge their batteries.

This is the vision for China’s ambitious plan to build the world’s first deep-sea base. Details are scarce, but there are clues to…

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