I have long considered underwater operations to be an excellent opportunity for the application of robotics.

There are unique challenges to the environment, but those challenges affect people, too, which is what makes putting the robots to work worth the effort.

Having said that, the video leaves a lot of information out. All it really shows is a tethered waterproof camera housing falling to the ocean floor. Google is coughing up precious little online references for it. Just some news blurbs similar to the one here.

Can it control its buoyancy? Can it swim/paddle/fly through the water without touching the bottom?

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Thanks for the additional information.
The video's still short on some technical details, but it looks like some sort of impeller or jet drive. I couldn't make out any moving parts other than the water spewing about when it was at the surface and preparing to submerge.

An enclosed drive could overcome some common problems in an ROV. If the intake vents can be kept clear enough to feed the drive, an enclosed drive would reduce the risk of getting hung up in kelp, nets, or rigging.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)