Chinese university deploys 116 underwater robots simultaneously
The demonstration lasted 34 minutes and followed a route of more than 500 metres.
A team from Northwestern Polytechnical University has, according to the university, operated 116 autonomous underwater robots simultaneously. Guinness World Records is said to have officially recognised the demonstration as a record for the largest number of autonomous underwater robots operating simultaneously.
The demonstration took place on 29 August using TH-618 robots. The vehicles were launched into the water one after another and then, according to the university, travelled entirely autonomously in formation. After 34 minutes, they had collectively covered more than 500 metres along a predetermined route.
The university says Guinness World Records recognised the achievement after checking it. A separate Guinness record page was not available at the time of publication. The record status in this article is therefore based on statements from the university and a report by the Chinese science outlet ScienceNet.
Underwater robots cannot be controlled in the same way as drones in the air. Radio communication works only to a limited extent underwater, and satellite navigation is unavailable there. According to the team's description, the robots therefore had to determine their position independently, maintain their formation and respond to disturbances in the water.
According to the university's technical data, the TH-618 is 61.5 centimetres long, 20 centimetres wide and 28 centimetres high. The vehicle weighs 5.14 kilograms. The university also reports a maximum operating range of 30 kilometres and an operating time of more than eight hours, but publishes no independent measurement data alongside this.
The system uses, among other things, a camera system with smartphone components for observation. These would allow the robots to adjust their altitude, speed and direction and use landmarks underwater. In the event of minor collisions or disturbances in the water, software is supposed to ensure that the vehicles automatically recover and return to their positions.
The demonstration mainly shows that a large number of small vehicles can work together in a controlled environment. That does not mean the same performance has already been demonstrated in open sea, murky water, strong currents or lengthy missions. Nor has it been published how many attempts were needed before the record run succeeded.
The research is not a peer-reviewed study, but a technical demonstration presented by the university involved and a company. In a separate, scientifically published study by Chinese researchers, simulations are used to examine the optimal deployment of underwater swarms. That study does not confirm the record, but it does show that cooperation between autonomous underwater robots is an active area of research.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article's central claim is supported by an official publication from the university involved and a second public science source. The record status and stated technical performance are carefully attributed to the university because independent verification is limited.
- confirmed 116 autonomous underwater robots travelled in formation simultaneously. — Reported by Northwestern Polytechnical University and ScienceNet. source
- confirmed The demonstration took place on 29 August 2026. — The date appears in the university's official publication. source
- confirmed The robots travelled for 34 minutes and covered more than 500 metres. — These figures are mentioned in both reports consulted. source
- uncertain Guinness World Records recognised the achievement as a world record. — The recognition is reported by the university and ScienceNet, but a separate public Guinness record page was not found. source
- confirmed The TH-618 is 61.5 centimetres long, 20 centimetres wide and 28 centimetres high, and weighs 5.14 kilograms. — Technical data from the university's official publication. source
- confirmed A peer-reviewed article examines the deployment of underwater swarms using simulations. — The article appeared in Applied Sciences and describes an optimisation method for underwater swarms. source
Editor's note
The demonstration date, number of vehicles, operating time and distance covered are certain according to two public sources. The Guinness recognition and technical performance figures come from statements by the university; an independent record page or peer-reviewed validation of this demonstration is lacking.Sources
- 西工大创造“最多水下自主航行器同时航行”世界纪录 — Northwestern Polytechnical University
- 116 艇水下自主编队！西工大创造水下航行集群吉尼斯纪录 — ScienceNet / 中国科学报
- Multi-Objective Deployment Optimization of Unmanned Underwater Swarms in Realistic Ocean Environments — MDPI
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „onderwaterrobots autonome voertuigen”
- RTL Nieuws — „onderwaterrobots autonome voertuigen”
- NOS — „onderwaterrobots autonome voertuigen”