Quick Takeaways
- Innovative Design: Researchers developed a compact, versatile swimming robot smaller than a credit card, utilizing silent undulating fins instead of noisy propellers, making it ideal for monitoring sensitive aquatic environments.
- Advanced Propulsion: The robot can swim at speeds of 12 cm/s and achieve remarkable maneuverability through the use of four artificial muscles, enabling forward, backward, and sideways movement.
- Energy Efficiency: The robot’s advanced control system operates safely at 500 volts with minimal power consumption (500 milliwatts), ensuring it does not disturb wildlife.
- Future Applications: The technology aims to enhance ecological studies, pollution tracking, and precision agriculture, with plans for field testing to extend operational capabilities and improve autonomy.
Miniature Swimming Robot Inspired by Marine Flatworms Unveiled
Researchers from EPFL’s Soft Transducers Lab and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems introduced a groundbreaking miniature swimming robot. This device, inspired by marine flatworms, aims to tackle challenges environmental scientists face in aquatic ecosystems. Weighing only 6 grams and smaller than a credit card, the robot excels in confined spaces, making it ideal for inspecting rice fields and waterborne machines.
Swimming robots are essential for monitoring pollution, studying aquatic ecosystems, and assessing water quality. Traditional devices often rely on noisy propellers, which can disturb wildlife. However, this innovative robot employs silently undulating fins, enhancing its ability to blend into natural habitats without causing disruption.
Herbert Shea, head of the EPFL Soft Transducers Lab, noted the challenges of developing untethered ultra-thin robots for underwater environments. The team had to create advanced soft actuators and a new approach to locomotion. They successfully designed a robot that swims at speeds of 12 centimeters per second while remaining nimble and controllable.
Swimming Robot Design and Features
The unique design allows the robot to move forward, backward, and sideways. This flexibility comes from four artificial muscles that drive the fins. Researchers also integrated a compact electronic control system that delivers high voltage while maintaining low power consumption—only 500 milliwatts, which is significantly less than a typical electric toothbrush.
The robot features light sensors that enable it to autonomously detect and follow light sources. This capability enhances its potential applications in ecological studies, pollution tracking, and precision agriculture.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to enhance the robot’s battery life and operational autonomy. Florian Hartmann, a former EPFL researcher and current research group leader at the Max Planck Institute, emphasized that the insights gained from this project could lead to advancements in bioinspired robotics. The ultimate goal is to create robotic systems that not only advance technology but also harmonize with nature, contributing positively to the environment.
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