Flatworm-Inspired Aquatic Robot Propels Itself with a Wiggling Motion

To safely collect data in delicate aquatic environments, researchers have developed a robot that mimics flatworms’ swimming motion.

While flatworms usually move along the seabed, they can also propel themselves through water by undulating their bodies. Inspired by this, scientists at Switzerland’s EPFL created a compact, untethered robot that moves effortlessly in any direction across the water’s surface.

Weighing just 6 grams and measuring 45 mm by 55 mm, the battery-powered robot uses two flexible rubber membranes as fins. Each fin connects to an electrohydraulic actuator, generating rhythmic waves. An onboard system delivers up to 500 volts while consuming only 500 milliwatts, ensuring efficient, seamless movement.

Efficient and Silent: A High-Speed, Multi-Directional Swimming Robot

This setup allows the robot to glide across the water at speeds of up to 12 cm (4.7 in) per second. It even surpasses the flatworm’s natural swimming ability, as its fins undulate 10 times faster. Beyond simple forward motion, the robot can turn, move sideways, or even reverse if equipped with additional actuators—all without producing motor noise.

Currently, the prototype features light sensors that act as basic eyes, enabling it to autonomously follow moving light sources. It can also push floating objects more than 16 times its own weight.

Future versions of this robot could play a role in environmental monitoring, pollution tracking, and precision agriculture, particularly in settings like flooded rice fields.

“Our goal is to extend operating times and improve autonomy,” says Florian Hartmann, a former EPFL researcher now leading a research group at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. “The insights from this project not only advance bioinspired robotics but also lay the groundwork for lifelike robotic systems that integrate seamlessly with nature.”

The research was recently published in Science Robotics, and a video demonstration showcases the robot in action.

Read Original Article: New Atlas

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