Copyright Interesting Engineering
China has field-tested an intelligent robotic mining vehicle at a depth of 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) in the western Pacific Ocean. The trial was conducted in a sensitive zone of the western Pacific, specifically beyond the US-established “second island chain”, and about 1,000 km (621 miles) east of Guam. In the test, the intelligent vehicle demonstrated its ability to self-navigate and maneuver across the uneven ocean floor, littered with cobalt crusts, confirming the operational readiness of the technology for deep-sea mining. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the robotic vehicle has been developed by a team from the National Engineering Research Centre for Metal Mining in Changsha, Central South University, and Tianjin University. This move is part of an intensifying global competition for seabed resources, with nations like the United States also vying for control. Cobalt is widely used in the production of rechargeable batteries and even in aerospace applications. Experimental robot Estimates suggest that the ocean floor contains a massive cobalt resource, holding over 7.3 billion tonnes. The number surpasses the world’s known land-based reserves by a factor of over 600. These cobalt crusts are found on seamount slopes, which contain vital metals such as cobalt, nickel, and platinum. The richest deposits are reportedly located in the Pacific. The experimental vehicle uses four independently driven tracks with active height control for stability. Optimal stability was achieved at a crawling pace of 5 cm per second, while it could also reach speeds of up to 20cm (7.8 inches) per second. Previous Chinese efforts in deep-sea mining were primarily limited to theoretical studies and lab-scale prototypes. The new mining vehicle features engineering enhancements designed to overcome the challenges of the seabed. For instance, it is equipped with a four-wheel independent drive system, providing maximum mobility across complex and rugged terrain. Details surrounding the mission — such as the vehicle’s payload capacity, power source duration, and specific mining technique — remain undisclosed. The deep-sea mining race China currently dominates the global terrestrial cobalt market, primarily due to its control of most of the world’s processing and refining capacity. The nation controls approximately 73% of the global cobalt refining capacity. By 2030, China is projected to account for approximately 46% of the global cobalt mined supply. This successful test is expected to sharpen the international competition for valuable deep-sea minerals. Reportedly, the US Department of Defence’s plan to stockpile cobalt was cancelled in October due to “unforeseen technical and logistical challenges.” The plan involved a major acquisition: buying up to 7,500 metric tons of alloy-grade cobalt as part of a long-term, five-year initiative. In 2013, the International Seabed Authority granted China the right to explore a 3,000 square kilometer zone of cobalt-rich crusts in the western Pacific seamounts. The push toward deep-sea mining, fueled by the search for critical minerals, is met with severe opposition from scientists who warn of potentially catastrophic environmental consequences. They have issued stark warnings that the practice, particularly if it proceeds in an unregulated or premature manner, poses an existential threat to the delicate and largely unexplored fragile marine ecosystems of the deep ocean.
