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Robotic Manta Rays Just Got Even Faster: Meet the Latest Innovation in Soft Robotics
A team of researchers at North Carolina State University has developed a new robotic manta ray that's not only faster than its predecessor but also more energy-efficient. The latest innovation in soft robotics is set to revolutionize the field of underwater exploration and aquatic wildlife observation.
The researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new robotic manta ray that's faster and more energy-efficient than its predecessor. The new robot uses a monostable wing structure, eliminating the need for two actuators per up-and-down wing-flapping cycle. The new robotic manta ray is 80% faster than its original model, with an average swimming speed of 6.8 body lengths per second. The robot consumes only 1.6 times less energy than its predecessor due to the clever use of elastic restoring forces and air pressure. The air chamber in the robot is used to control buoyancy, allowing it to move vertically within the water column with ease.
The world of robotic manta rays has just gotten a whole lot more exciting. A team of researchers at North Carolina State University, led by Assoc. Prof. Jie Yin and PhD student Haitao Qing, has developed a new robotic manta ray that's not only faster than its predecessor but also more energy-efficient. The latest innovation in soft robotics is set to revolutionize the field of underwater exploration and aquatic wildlife observation.
The original robot, which was designed just two years ago, held the record for being the fastest-swimming soft-bodied robot at the time. It featured a unique design that mimicked both the manta ray and the human butterfly stroke, allowing it to swim at an impressive average speed of 3.74 body lengths per second. However, this original robot had a major limitation - it required two flexible polyester manta-ray-like wings to be alternately inflated and deflated to flap its fins.
In contrast, the new robotic manta ray takes a more streamlined approach. By ditching the bistable design that allowed the original robot to flap its wings back and forth, the new robot uses a monostable wing structure that snaps down into place when inflated. This eliminates the need for two actuators per up-and-down wing-flapping cycle, significantly reducing energy consumption.
The new robotic manta ray is also much faster than its predecessor, with an average swimming speed of 6.8 body lengths per second. According to the scientists, this represents a whopping 80% increase in speed compared to the original robot. But what's even more impressive is that the new robot consumes only 1.6 times less energy than its predecessor.
So how does the new design achieve such remarkable performance? The answer lies in the clever use of elastic restoring forces and air pressure. When the actuator curls downward and pulls down on the middle of the wing structure, causing it to snap downward, the elastic restoring force of the structure causes it to snap back to its default position as soon as it's allowed to deflate. This creates a smooth, efficient motion that allows the robot to glide effortlessly through the water.
But the new design doesn't stop there. The researchers have also found a way to use the air chamber in the robot to its advantage. When the robot's fins are at rest, the air chamber is empty, reducing the robot's buoyancy. However, when the robot is flapping its fins slowly, the fins are at rest more often, causing the air chamber to be full and making the robot more buoyant. This clever use of buoyancy control allows the robot to move vertically within the water column with ease.
The implications of this latest innovation in soft robotics are vast and exciting. With a robotic manta ray that's not only faster but also more energy-efficient, researchers can now explore the ocean with unprecedented speed and agility. From studying aquatic wildlife to conducting underwater surveys, the possibilities for this new technology are endless.
In conclusion, the latest development in robotic manta rays represents a major breakthrough in soft robotics. By harnessing the power of elastic restoring forces and clever design, researchers have created a robot that's faster, more efficient, and more agile than ever before. As we look to the future of underwater exploration and aquatic wildlife observation, one thing is certain - this new technology is set to revolutionize our understanding of the ocean and its incredible creatures.
Related Information:
https://newatlas.com/robotics/robotic-manta-ray-swims-faster/
Published: Tue Dec 10 18:56:34 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
