Echoing dolphin movement in water robotics
Echoing dolphin movement in water robotics lead image
Underwater robots are well-suited for carrying out tasks beneath the water’s surface. However, these robots lack mobility, stability, and speed when attempting tasks at the water’s surface, including debris removal, emergency rescue, and shallow water patrol.
Lei et al. drew inspiration from real dolphins to improve the surface maneuverability of dolphin robots. The coordinated motion of a dolphin’s body, caudal fin, and pectoral fins allow it to turn while standing at the water’s surface.
The authors developed a 3D physical model of a bionic dolphin robot and proposed three novel turning modes for the robot based on the movement of real dolphins. They used numerical simulations to compare the hydrodynamic performance of the turning modes, known as different amplitude (DA), different frequency (DF), and different phase (DP). While all three modes allow turning, DF is the most consistently stable mode. On the other hand, DP achieves in-place turning behavior, which is challenging for traditional underwater robots.
“We applied real dolphin behavior to expand the operational capabilities of a robotic system,” said author Dan Xia. “This study lays a solid foundation for designing the next generation of biomimetic underwater robots with enhanced surface maneuverability.”
Based on this work, the authors plan to develop a robotic dolphin prototype and test its performance at the water surface. They also plan to optimize the robot’s features for different applications.
“Efforts will focus on optimizing kinematic parameters to meet the specific requirements of applications such as long-term surface monitoring or emergency rescue operations,” Xia said. “Furthermore, we will explore the integration of advanced sensors, autonomous control, and path-planning algorithms to further realize the intelligence of the robotic dolphin.”
Source: “Hydrodynamic mechanisms implicit in the transition from surface standing-and-walking to standing-and-turning behavior in robotic dolphins,” by Ming Lei, Qingyuan Gai, Zhihan Li, Xiang Luo, and Dan Xia, Physics of Fluids (2024). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0244269 .
