The robot dolphin

It can do just about everything a real dolphin can - dive, leap, roll and even hit speeds of up 20mph underwater.

The robot dolphin even looks very like its natural namesake. But what is it for?

Cartoon hero Tintin used a similar machine - his looked rather more like a shark - in one of his adventures.

But the New Zealand inventor behind the robot dolphin is not expecting his creation to be used to thwart villainy on the high seas. Instead Rob Innes expects it to sell for around £30,000 to film companies and others who need a 'stunt' water craft.

The machine has a fibreglass skin, is fully submersible and can dive rapidly using its 110horsepower engine. It can do up to 30mph on the surface and 20mph below - only 2mph less than a real dolphin.