Digital Event Horizon
Scientists at North Carolina State University have made a significant breakthrough in soft robotics by developing a fast-swimming soft robot that draws inspiration from manta rays. The new design features fins shaped like those of a manta ray and is capable of swimming both on the surface and throughout the water column with remarkable efficiency.
The researchers at North Carolina State University have designed a fast-swimming soft robot inspired by manta ray's fluid dynamics. The new design features fins shaped like those of a manta ray, with a flexible silicone body containing an air-filled chamber that can be pumped full of air. The robot achieves speeds of 6.8 body lengths per second, more than double its predecessors' capabilities. The robot can now swim both on the surface and throughout the water column with remarkable efficiency due to its unique swimming motion. The team adjusted the actuation frequency to control the robot's movement, allowing it to change direction more easily by producing two jets of water. The power source is a compressed air system that affects the robot's buoyancy when the fins are at rest, and can be controlled by adjusting the fin flapping speed. The researchers plan to enhance lateral movement and explore other modes of actuation in the future to boost the system's capabilities.
ScienceDaily recently reported on a groundbreaking development in soft robotics, specifically in the area of aquatic swimmers. Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully designed and built a fast-swimming soft robot that draws inspiration from the fluid dynamics of manta rays.
According to the study published in Science Advances, the new design features fins shaped like those of a manta ray, which are attached to a flexible silicone body containing a chamber that can be pumped full of air. When air is introduced into the chamber, it forces the fins to bend - much like the down stroke when a manta flaps its fins. Conversely, when the air is released from the chamber, the fins snap back into their initial position due to a spontaneous snappy-induced jet flow.
This new design has achieved significant improvements over previous models of aquatic soft swimmers. The current model reaches speeds of 6.8 body lengths per second, more than double that of its predecessors. Moreover, it can now swim both on the surface and throughout the water column with remarkable efficiency.
The inspiration for this innovation came from studying the fluid dynamics of manta rays. By observing their unique swimming motion, researchers were able to mimic this behavior in order to control the robot's movement more effectively. The robot produces two jets of water when it swims, which alters its trajectory and allows it to change direction more easily.
The team also identified a key factor that impacts the robot's ability to swim at varying depths - the power of its jets. When the robot flaps its fins slowly, it creates an upward jet, causing it to rise in the water column. Conversely, when the actuation frequency is slowed down, this allows the robot to sink slightly between flapping its fins. This means that by adjusting the speed at which it flails its fins, the robot can either swim at the same depth or dive downward.
Another critical aspect of the design is the power source - a compressed air system that affects the robot's buoyancy when the fins are at rest. As Qing explains, "The faster the robot flaps its fins, the more time the air chamber is full, making it more buoyant."
While the researchers acknowledge that this highly engineered design retains an elegant simplicity, they also express their desire to enhance lateral movement and explore other modes of actuation in the future, believing that these upgrades will significantly boost the system's capabilities.
The breakthrough achieved by the North Carolina State University team showcases the potential of soft robotics and its ability to mimic nature-based inspiration for more efficient and agile aquatic swimmers. As scientists continue to push the boundaries of this technology, we can expect even more innovative solutions in the coming years.
Related Information:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204145135.htm
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-12-manta-rays-fastest-soft-robot.html
Published: Wed Dec 4 20:11:12 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
