These incredible submarine designs could be used by the Royal Navy in the future
Torpedoes which act like flying fish and mind-controlled, manta ray-shaped motherships all feature in the designs.
The Royal Navy has released new hi-tech concepts which could represent the future of the submarine.
Designs include mind-controlled motherships with the characteristics of a manta ray and whale shark and unmanned, robotic eels capable of ejecting autonomous sensors.
To prepare to mark the occasion, the Royal Navy asked young engineers from the UK Naval Engineering Science and Technology Forums (UKNEST) to design what a submarine might look like in the future.
Super-strong alloys and strong acrylic materials combine to make a 3D-printed hull capable of taking the mothership to depths of over 1,000m – while anechoic coatings would give the ship a scale-like skin.
It is also claimed that the mothership would be controlled using thoughts. A reduced crew of around 20 would use a neuro interface to communicate with multiple systems in the ship’s command at once.
“These concepts demonstrate that the UK has the creative foresight to consider the future underwater world, what it might look like, and what role the Royal Navy might play.
“Most importantly, we want to help inspire the next generation of British scientists and engineers to be bold in their ambitions.”
These soluble micro-drones, the designers say, could provide a swarm of sensors or drones using 3-D printing. This ability would help them to shield vessels from view while being virtually undetectable themselves.
These Flying Fish swarm drones could be given modular, assorted payloads including electromagnetic pulses, cluster missiles or individual warheads. The technology could thus replace traditional torpedo and missile systems.
“It is no longer sufficient for Britannia to rule the waves. Tomorrow the Royal Navy must aspire to dominate the deepest oceans.”
