Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Devon Vail, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Devon Vail
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Christopher Hockley
Abstract
As threats to the ocean and its ecosystems continue to grow, it becomes increasingly necessary to explore and develop new methods for low-cost ocean exploration. It is especially imperative to investigate methods that pose little to no threat of harm to the local flora and fauna. One such method is bio-inspired soft robots which offer simple, and often elegant solutions, to complex issues associated with underwater locomotion. Soft robotics allows for the actuation and control of non-rigid members of a body; this allows for a wider range of motions when compared to rigid members and can offer additional advantages over traditional robots. Soft robots, with their compliant structures, pose less risk to environments they operate in and can operate in extreme pressures without damage. This project analyzes research on the biomechanics of salps, a barrel-shaped organism that uses its body to form a natural pulsatile vortex thrust mechanism. Using this analysis, this project is also working to create a bio-inspired robot based on the salp. Using previously validated methods for creating soft robotic systems, the body of the robot is being designed to create a similar thrust mechanism to a biological salp. Batteries that produce power by contact with salt water are also being explored. Incorporating a battery such as this into the design of the robot will prove extremely advantageous when operating in an ocean environment the efficiency of the robot will be significantly increased by using the seawater as the working fluid as well as the source of power for the robot.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
Construction of a Saltwater Battery Powered Soft Robotic Pulsatile Vortex Thruster for Underwater Oceanic Locomotion
As threats to the ocean and its ecosystems continue to grow, it becomes increasingly necessary to explore and develop new methods for low-cost ocean exploration. It is especially imperative to investigate methods that pose little to no threat of harm to the local flora and fauna. One such method is bio-inspired soft robots which offer simple, and often elegant solutions, to complex issues associated with underwater locomotion. Soft robotics allows for the actuation and control of non-rigid members of a body; this allows for a wider range of motions when compared to rigid members and can offer additional advantages over traditional robots. Soft robots, with their compliant structures, pose less risk to environments they operate in and can operate in extreme pressures without damage. This project analyzes research on the biomechanics of salps, a barrel-shaped organism that uses its body to form a natural pulsatile vortex thrust mechanism. Using this analysis, this project is also working to create a bio-inspired robot based on the salp. Using previously validated methods for creating soft robotic systems, the body of the robot is being designed to create a similar thrust mechanism to a biological salp. Batteries that produce power by contact with salt water are also being explored. Incorporating a battery such as this into the design of the robot will prove extremely advantageous when operating in an ocean environment the efficiency of the robot will be significantly increased by using the seawater as the working fluid as well as the source of power for the robot.