Revolutionary Underwater Robot Enhances Deep-Sea Exploration with Advanced Soft Actuators and Dynamic Landing Stability

October 6, 2024
Revolutionary Underwater Robot Enhances Deep-Sea Exploration with Advanced Soft Actuators and Dynamic Landing Stability
  • To simulate the robot's penetration into the seabed, numerical methods, particularly the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method, were employed.

  • Force analysis during penetration identified key factors affecting depth, including the robot's weight, initial velocity, and the properties of the seabed soil.

  • Overall, this study aims to provide valuable insights for the design and application of underwater robots, optimizing their performance and enhancing reliability in deep-sea exploration.

  • The early concept of seabed landing for underwater robots was developed by the U.S. Navy, paving the way for advancements in designs that minimize landing damage.

  • Traditional robotic arms pose risks of damaging delicate objects due to rigid contact, making soft actuators a safer alternative for handling fragile items.

  • Underwater robots have evolved significantly, enabling them to adapt to harsh environments and perform long-duration tasks, which supports in situ observations of deep-sea areas.

  • The residency technique employed by these robots allows for long-term fixed-point monitoring, thereby enhancing data collection and interdisciplinary cooperation in marine science.

  • The study emphasizes the dynamic landing process of this novel robot on various soil types at different impact velocities to ensure a safe landing.

  • Central to this research is the underwater soft bending actuator (USBA), which utilizes water pressure for bending and is constructed from silicone with specific density and hardness.

  • Experiments conducted in a water cylinder were crucial for measuring the performance of the USBA, ensuring accurate data collection for parameter identification.

  • A newly designed underwater robot has been introduced, featuring four rigid support legs and footpads to enhance stability and safety during landing on the seabed.

  • Simulation results revealed that penetration depth is significantly influenced by seabed soil characteristics, such as density and shear modulus, with varying resistance for clay and sandy soils.

Summary based on 2 sources


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