Bluefin Robotics Dives Deep Into the Indian Ocean with Help from SOLIDWORKS

The grim mystery of missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370 continues as the world waits to hear more news of what happened to the plane. Scouring the deep waters of the Indian Ocean, Bluefin-21, manufactured by Bluefin Robotics in Massachusetts, is an underwater robot that is trying to find clues as to what happened in this tragedy.

A photorealistic image shows the Bluefin 21 underwater robot searching the ocean floor with its sonar capabilities. NBC News/Bluefin Robotics — A photorealistic image shows the Bluefin 21 underwater robot searching the ocean floor with its sonar capabilities.
Image via NBC News/Bluefin Robotics

In order to do a full scan of the ocean, the Bluefin-21 robot is conducting a full 3D sonar scan of the Indian Ocean to account for floating debris from the plane as well as parts of the aircraft that have sunk to the ocean floor. Designed in SOLIDWORKS, this robot can stay submerged for 25 hours and map 40 square meters a day according to the Business Insider.

Designed with the harsh ocean environment in mind, the robot was built to resist the corrosive salt water and resist underwater pressure which may make it difficult for the robot to operate. Equipped with pressure tolerant batteries that help compensate for the ocean water pressure.

As authorities work to find more information on what happened to the missing Malaysian jet, Bluefin Robotics has also done its role to demystify the tragedy, with a little help from SOLIDWORKS. With the initial search with Bluefin-21 concluding today, we are still waiting to hear an answer as the search conclude today.