Robots do seem to get plenty of attention in recent times, ranging from a soft robot fabric to that of a robot which is “smart” enough to be able to fly a flight simulator. Having said that, there are many ways for robots to move around, be they in a humanoid form factor, moving about on all fours, or even performing a balancing act on wheels like the Murata Cheerleaders – this particular one happens to find its niche while it is underwater.
Inspired by the humble octopus, this unique robot will propel itself through the water as it pumps all of its limbs in a well synchronized motion that is called “sculling”. Researchers at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) in Greece were the ones behind this particular robot, where their paper reads, “This robotic swimmer is first investigated computationally via dynamical models capturing the arm and web compliance, and indicating the effect of various kinematic parameters of the system on its motion. The performance of the robotic prototype is, then, tested experimentally, to demonstrate this novel mode of underwater propulsion by combining various patterns of sculling movements of the arms and web. Speeds of 0.5 body lengths per second and propulsive forces of up to 10.5 N were achieved, with a cost of transport as low as 0.62.”
So far, practical applications have shown it to be able to blend in underwater with different sea life, perhaps allowing it to one day perform non-disruptive ocean life surveillance.
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