Engineers at RMIT University in Australia have developed a remote-controlled miniature robot designed to collect oil spills from the surface of water using a novel filtration system inspired by sea urchins.

Oil spills remain a major environmental hazard worldwide, capable of damaging marine ecosystems, killing wildlife and costing billions of dollars to remediate. The researchers say the new device could offer a safer and more targeted way to respond to spills, particularly in sensitive or hazardous environments.

The prototype robot – the ‘Electronic Dolphin’ – is roughly the size of a shoe and shaped like its marine namesake. It skims across the water surface while drawing oil through a specially designed filter that repels water but absorbs oil.

Image: Sonia Kowsar, Unsplash