Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have unveiled a groundbreaking amphibious vehicle dubbed the Nezha-SeaDart, a hybrid aerial underwater vehicle (HAUV) capable of seamless transitions between air, land, and water, media report.
Inspired by the legendary Chinese deity Nezha, known for his strength and magical abilities, the Nezha-SeaDart is a tail-sitting eVTOL craft with a unique twist. It can take off and land vertically on land or water, and then dive nose-first into the water like a kingfisher, becoming a fully submerged vehicle capable of underwater operations. Once its mission is complete, it simply resurfaces and resumes flight without interruption.
While seaplanes and water-landing helicopters exist, the Nezha-SeaDart is the first vehicle to achieve true amphibious functionality, seamlessly transitioning between air, water, and underwater environments.
The vehicle, reminiscent in design to the US Navy’s supersonic seaplane prototype, the Covair Sea Dart, boasts four propellers for aerial flight and eight underwater thrusters. It utilizes a combination of these propellers and thrusters for autonomous underwater navigation.
The Nezha-SeaDart recently underwent ten days of testing in China’s Thousand Islands Lake, proving its ability to traverse different environments seamlessly. Its delta-wing configuration allows it to cruise like a fixed-wing aircraft, making it appear almost like a UFO in flight.
Potential applications for this HAUV include marine research, search and rescue, and marine exploration, as well as defense and security operations.
