This is FIFISH + KDDI, the first combination of an underwater drone with a flying drone

Six years ago, the Japanese telecommunications company KDDI began work on what has just become officially the first system in the world that integrates drones operating in different domains. I am talking about the fruit of the project FIFISH + KDDI, in which she was assisted by Qysea and Prodrone, i.e. a manufacturer of flying and floating drones

The FIFISH + KDDI system is the first to combine drones operating in two different domains. How and for what?

Although it does not seem to make much sense to combine an underwater drone with a flying drone, in practice such a hybrid has great potential. The latter can deliver the first one directly above the dive site and stay on the surface to act as a signal node between the underwater drone and the operator. This solves a huge communication problem that is simply caused by water, preventing efficient communication with the drone diving in the depths.

Thus, the first system of this type in the world uses the Prodrone hexacopter, under which the cage with the Fifish Pro V6 Plus underwater drone is suspended. In practice, its operation includes flying from the shore just above the destination, landing on the water surface and staying there thanks to the swimmers. Then the underwater drone with an optional grapple comes into action, which is equipped with a 4K camera and LED headlights with a total power of 6,000 lumens. It can dive to a maximum depth of 150 meters.

Also read: It takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane. This is the Dragonfish drone from Autel Robotics

The range of the underwater drone is limited only by a long cord pulled from a spool on the surface, which is also responsible for efficiently pulling the drone out of the depths thanks to the addition of an electric winch. Such a combination can be used in the inspection, maintenance and repair of marine structures (e.g. turbines), or in scientific research, hull inspections and search and rescue missions.