Cuttlefish-Like Robots Are Far More Efficient Than Propeller-Powered Machines
New York-based firm Pliant Energy Systems is building a marine system reminiscent of the cuttlefish with its rippling underwater motion, a report from The Economist reveals.
The company's biomimetic machine, called Velox, is based on the principle that propellers are nowhere near as efficient as the fins of sea creatures that are prevalent in nature.
Fins versus propellers
Unlike propellers, fins and flippers can extend around a sea creature, meaning more propulsion without the need for a large protruding propeller that could get caught or damaged by hitting the seabed. Fins are also flexible, meaning that if they do come in contact with any other object in the sea, they are less likely to get damaged.
Cuttlefish-like propulsion could soon take to the seas
Filardo showed his new design to America's Office of Naval Research, leading them to commission a new iteration, called C-Ray, that will be faster and lighter than Velox. C-Ray also won't be tethered, unlike Velox, which is currently controlled via a cable. Autonomous swarms of the machine could eventually be used for missions such as undersea patrols, mine removal, and deepsea exploration and monitoring. In January, for example, scientists from Harvard University announced they were developing swarms of autonomous robot fish that could one day help to monitor the oceans. For naval operations, Velox's undulating propulsion system will make less noise, meaning it will give the systems the advantage of being less easily detected.
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