Waterproof drone can fly and swim using the same four propellers

Mirs-X is a quadcopter that flies like a standard drone but can also swim, using the same four propellers. Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have designed the prototype to hover for six minutes in air, or around 40 minutes underwater. They plan to develop larger versions of the device which could be used for search and rescue or carrying out engineering inspections where it can observe from high altitudes before descending into the water for a closer look. Learn more ➤ Subscribe ➤ Get more from New Scientist: Official website: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: About New Scientist: New Scientist was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. Today our website, videos, newsletters, app, podcast and print magazine cover the world’s most important, exciting and entertaining science news as well as asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human. New Scientist