A Chilean university student team developed Skiper, a biomimetic underwater robot mimicking a Chilean manta ray, for Antarctic exploration. Funded by Corfo, Skiper uses soft robotics to navigate icy waters without harming the ecosystem. Its flexible design allows access to previously unreachable areas, collecting crucial data on climate change impacts. The team will spend a year refining the prototype before Antarctic deployment, aiming to revolutionize underwater exploration globally.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.