Nature’s ability to evolve through natural selection, genetic drift, and other mechanisms has become an inspiration to modern design of underwater robots. This process of designing based on natures problem solving through evolution has been given the name – biomimicry. The Biomimicry Institute, established in 2006, is working towards a future where it is commonplace to “transfer ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.”
Aquajellies 2.0
Designed to mimic the tentacle swimming method of jellyfish, the Aquajellies are able to fluidly move through water. Also this robots use an electrically controlled actuator that moves up and down depending on how much the tentacles need to move.
JenniFish
Monitoring nature without disturbing nature has always been a concern of researchers, as disturbing the nature that is being research can not only permanently disrupt an ecosystem, but also tamper the data. The climate jellyfish spy developed by a team at Florida Atlantic University. By using robots it can monitoring and studying reefs without harming the living organisms. The soft tentacles powered by water pumps allow the robot to move gently.
The Camouflage Hydrogel Underwater Robots
Researchers at MIT have developed a hydrogel actuating underwater robot inspired by leptocephalus, a flat and transparent larva of an eel. In other words this almost nearly transparent (underwater) hydrogel allows the robot to blend in with its surroundings
Underwater Robots Sepios
A slightly different concept of underwater soft robotics is the Sepios. This underwater robot consists of a central and sealed electronics hub – the front of which is a clear screen for a camera, and the back has several cables running through connectors to each set of fin servos and an umbilical cord that runs to the water surface.
With the fins are split into sections and each controlled with an individual servo range of 270 degrees. Also no solid rotating thrusters, this is an elegant solution for moving through rough and dense vegetation underwater.
Underwater Robots The Velox
Designed and built by Pliant Energy Systems, the Velox robot is a much more versatile adaptation of the cuttlefish fins. Therefore on land, the robot can pivot the fins downward to act similarly to a snake’s movement. Underwater, the fins move gracefully, similar to a cuttlefish, but with a human touch and more versatility.
Underwater Robots Mantabot
The plastic body and soft silicone fins of the Mantabot allow it to move similarly to a cow-nosed ray underwater. One of the primary goals of underwater robotics development is moving with as little energy as possible. Therefore the ray family of animals can hold position and accelerate with minimal energy required.
Also designed and built by researchers at the University of Virginia. This robot may work in a military or scientific environment focused on underwater scouting missions.
7. Manta Ray-Inspired Underwater Robots
Smaller variation on the manta ray robotics designs is a soft underwater robot developed by researchers at the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. In addition spanning only 9.3 cm or 18.5 cm including the tail, this little robot is able to mimic the swimming technique of a manta ray.
