NASA is developing an innovative ocean-exploration mission called SWIM, which stands for Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers, aimed at deploying a fleet of small, autonomous robots to explore the ocean of Europa.

The Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched on October 14, 2024, is set to reach Jupiter's moon Europa by 2030, where it will conduct 49 flybys to investigate the moon's subsurface ocean for signs of life.

Current prototypes of the SWIM robots measure about 16.5 inches long and weigh 5 pounds, but future versions intended for space missions are expected to be three times smaller.

These mini robots are designed to be significantly smaller for space missions, optimizing their size for efficient exploration of ocean worlds.

Recent tests of the SWIM prototypes at Caltech demonstrated their autonomous navigation and data collection capabilities in a controlled swimming pool environment.

The latest prototype features low-cost motors and electronics, two propellers, and four steering flaps, showcasing its ability to maneuver and even spell 'J-P-L' during tests.

Computer simulations have been conducted to refine the design of the robots, focusing on balancing battery life, exploration volume, and swarm size for optimal performance in Europa's ocean.

To enhance communication and data transmission, the mini robots will utilize a novel wireless underwater acoustic communication system.

Collaboration with Georgia Tech has resulted in the development of a compact ocean composition sensor that measures multiple environmental factors, crucial for the scientific missions of the robots.

While the primary focus is on exploring icy moons, further development of the SWIM robots is anticipated to have applications in oceanographic research on Earth as well.

The Europa Clipper mission carries NASA's most advanced science instruments, which will aid in the exploration of the outer solar system.

Engineers are currently testing prototypes for this mission concept, which aims to search for signs of life on ocean worlds using a swarm of underwater robots.