Agile robotic fish based on direct drive of continuum body

Abstract

Fish-like agile movements, such as fast swimming and rapid turning, are essential for biomimetic underwater robots but challenging to achieve simultaneously. We present a self-contained robotic fish capable of swimming at a speed of 6.3 body length per second and pivot turning at an angular speed of 1450° per second. These fast motions, comparable to real fish, are realized by directly oscillating a flexible body using an electromagnetic motor, eliminating the need for transmission parts and simplifying the structure. This direct-drive (DD) method improves mechanical robustness and generates fish-like deformations and subsequent rapid swimming. The Strouhal and swimming numbers of the robot match typical values observed in nature. Moreover, the observed frequency peaks in swimming are similar to computed values using a model, which guides the design of the robot. These results illustrate the DD method as a promising framework for the creation of highly versatile biomimetic underwater robots.