The world's first robot which can swim like a fish by using an undulating fin instead of a propeller has been unveiled in Singapore, according to Channel NewsAsia report on Friday.

It was designed and made by students and professors in Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), who have been observing and studying fish fins' movements for two years.

The environment-friendly robot can swim quietly underwater, though not as fast as those with normal propellers do, the report said, adding that the size of the fin can be re-configured by changing the number of spokes.

Aiming to accomplish a complete robotic fish in two years, the researchers hope to conduct further studies of the undulating fin so that it may replace the normal propeller one day.

They expect that such smart swimming vehicles can be used in surveillance, spying, de-mining, sea floor mapping and biological research when equipped with cameras or compasses.

Source: Xinhua