An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the XH1000, has been used by Chinese researchers during an Arctic expedition.

The robot was created by scientists at Harbin Engineering University and has been tested in the sea during the 13th research expedition to study the Arctic Ocean where it discovered a subglacial environment near the Chukchi Sea and transmitted the bulk of data, including temperature, salinity and the pH level of the ocean water.

The robotized submersible, equipped with Chinese-made hydrolocators, studied an area of 7,000 square meters under Arctic ice.

According to Zhu Zhongben, an associate professor at Harbin Engineering University and the leader of the dive team, the collected data will help scientists better understand the process of change in the sea ice and ocean currents in this region, and help in counteracting the impact of climate change on China.

According to the professor, the expedition members tested some technology, including underwater navigation in the high latitudes of the polar region, and received valuable experience in working with AUVs in the high-risk polar regions and in extreme weather conditions.