Advances in Robotics Research

Volume 1, Number 3, 2014, pages 239-250

DOI: 10.12989/arr.2015.1.3.239

Design and implementation of a biological inspired swimming robot

Jose Augusto M. Silva, Manuel F. Silva and Ramiro S. Barbosa

Abstract

This paper describes the design and development of a bio-inspired swimming robot, intended for inspections purposes. The main goal of this work was the development and implementation of a first prototype of a robot with locomotion similar to a biological fish. For that purpose, it was first performed a study concerning fish swimming, in order to understand how they move. In parallel, a study was conducted on swimming robots already developed to examine their locomotion modes. With this background knowledge it was designed a prototype, that was latter implemented. After the prototype development there were performed several locomotion tests. Several experiments revealed that the robot was able to swim with stability and keeping the programmed direction.

Key Words

robotics; swimming; biological inspiration; biomimetics

Address

Jose Augusto M. Silva, Manuel F. Silva, Ramiro S. Barbosa: Department of Electrical Engineering, Institute of Engineering of Porto, Rua Dr. Antonio Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal Manuel F. Silva: INESC TEC–ROBIS, Portugal Ramiro S. Barbosa: GECAD–Knowledge Engineering and Decision Support Research Center, Portugal