China shows a lifelike underwater robo-fish Golden Dragon Fish after earlier developing ROBO-SHARK for military

China has unveiled a lifelike underwater robot designed to move through water like a real fish, offering a glimpse into the country’s expanding work on biomimetic robotics. Called the BG-5 Golden Dragon Fish, the compact machine was demonstrated at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Beijing’s Shougang Park. The robot has been developed by Boyagongdao Marine Technology Group and takes its design inspiration from the golden arowana.

Unlike a conventional underwater drone that uses a propeller, the BG-5 pushes itself through the water with a flexible, multi-joint tail. The movement is intended to mimic the undulating motion of a swimming fish.

Robot can navigate without a fixed route

According to Chinese outlet Jimu News, an exhibition staff member said the robot is not restricted to a route programmed in advance. Instead, onboard sensors can identify obstacles in its surroundings and enable the machine to adjust its course autonomously. That ability could make such robots more useful in underwater environments where conditions can change and remote operators may not be able to control every movement.


The BG-5 is relatively small. The manufacturer's catalogue lists its dimensions as 640 mm long, 204 mm wide and 90 mm high, with a weight of about 3 kg. It has a maximum operating depth of 5 metres and a listed top speed of 0.6 metres per second. The robot's three-joint tail is divided into seven segments, allowing it to generate propulsion through a wave-like movement rather than a conventional rotating propeller.

Why a fish-shaped underwater robot?

The unusual design is not simply about making an underwater machine look like a fish. Biomimetic robots attempt to borrow solutions that have evolved naturally in animals. Fish, for example, can move efficiently through water while making relatively small movements. A robot that copies some of those characteristics could potentially operate in places where traditional underwater vehicles face limitations. The BG-5's small size could also be useful in shallow or confined areas. Such a machine may be easier to deploy in environments where a larger unmanned underwater vehicle would be difficult to operate.

BG-5V points to multi-robot operations

Boyagongdao also lists a BG-5V version with more advanced capabilities. These include path planning, task allocation, formation control and cooperation between multiple robots. That raises the possibility of underwater robots working as a group rather than individually. In such a setup, several machines could potentially divide tasks, coordinate their movements and cover different areas during a mission. The technology therefore goes beyond a robotic fish swimming autonomously. It points toward a broader concept in which fleets of relatively small underwater machines could communicate and coordinate their activities.

Defence interest in underwater biomimetic robots

The technology has also attracted attention because of the developer's links to defence-related underwater robotics. Boyagongdao says it has worked on a national defence key special project involving an underwater biomimetic detection platform. The company has also developed the ROBO-SHARK biomimetic underwater robot in cooperation with a military unit, according to material published by the World Robot Conference.

That background has naturally raised questions about possible defence uses for fish-like autonomous underwater robots. The BG-5's combination of a small body, autonomous obstacle avoidance and fish-inspired propulsion could potentially suit shallow-water surveillance and reconnaissance. Its design may allow it to move through areas where a larger underwater vehicle would be conspicuous or impractical.

The BG-5V's ability to support coordinated operations between multiple robots could further expand those possibilities, although the publicly listed specifications do not establish that the displayed robot is currently deployed for military missions. For now, the Golden Dragon Fish remains a striking demonstration of how robotics researchers are increasingly looking to nature for ideas. But its autonomous navigation and the possibility of coordinating several underwater machines show why biomimetic robotics is becoming an area of growing interest.