Swimming

If you've ever tried packing snorkelling gear into a suitcase, you'll know that traditional fins take up an awful lot of space. That's why Folding Fins were created, as they fold down to less than half their regular width when not in use.

Swimming is one of those sports in which stopping to check a smartwatch can be quite disruptive. Because of this, we've recently seen a number of performance-tracking goggles. One of the newest, known as Holoswim, is now on Kickstarter.

It was just this year that we heard about the Sonr radio system, which lets coaches talk to swimmers via a waterproof speaker worn by the latter. It's a neat idea, but what happens when the coach isn't around? Well, that's where Athlos Live comes in.

While we have seen eel-like swimming robots before, they've tended to simply copy the movements of their biological counterparts. AgnathaX is different, in that it utilizes simulated central and peripheral nervous systems for more robust performance.

Given that they're such good swimmers, the structure of fish is increasingly being copied in the design of underwater robots. Scientists have now discovered that by adjusting the stiffness of their tails, those bots can swim much more efficiently.

Not content with boasting the world's tallest building, the world's largest mall and a host of other forward-thinking ventures that include flying taxis and firefighters with jetpacks, Dubai has now opened the deepest swimming pool in the world.

Although there will never be a substitute for parents' watchful eyes while their children are swimming, eyes can sometimes miss things. That's where the Wave system is designed to come in, by sounding an alarm if kids stay underwater too long.

Swim coaches have a difficult job, as they have to shout in order for swimmers to hear them – and even then, they still may not be heard. The Sonr system is designed to address that problem, using one-way radio communications.

A couple of years ago, LeFeet announced its S1 modular electric underwater scooter. The Chinese manufacturer is now back again, with the less expensive C1 model – and it can do more than just scoot underwater.

Fish have a sensory system known as the lateral line, which allows them to detect movements and pressure gradients in the water. Scientists have now given a robotic fish its own version of that system, letting it determine the best swimming speed.

Even though lifeguards are essential to maintaining safety at swimming pools, they can't always see everything that's happening. That's where a new swimmer-saving underwater robot is designed to come in.

When it comes to underwater scooters, there are smaller, less powerful single-motor models, or larger, faster dual-motor units. The new WhiteShark Tini, however, can be used in either configuration.