Festo, the German automation company, has amazed us time and again with its nature-inspired robots. Now it's back with a video of the BionicFinWave, the extraordinary robotic fish from Festo.
Imitating nature is no easy task, but Festo is up to the challenge. The company has brought us everything from bat robots to the terrifying BionicWheelBot, enough to give arachnophobes nightmares. Its latest creation is BionicFinWave, an underwater robot inspired by cuttlefish, which live on the bottom of shallow seas among algae and aquatic grasses. It features an elegant propulsion mechanism designed to replicate the undulating fin movement seen in cuttlefish.
The wave-like motion of these fins generates movement forward, up, down, and even backward in the BionicFinWave. By altering the wave patterns on the fins, the robot can switch between different movements. The result is surprisingly efficient propulsion, with far less water disturbance than some alternative underwater propulsion methods. The robot's body is 3D printed, with silicone fins and three servo motors enabling natural maneuvers.
It also carries batteries, a pressure sensor, and ultrasonic sensors to gather information about its surroundings and transmit data to the outside world. It can move without any tethers or cables to the surface. While most Festo robots are built for exhibition, this could change with BionicFinWave, as it might have real-world applications in water, wastewater, and other process industries. It's conceivable that the unusual propulsion system could also lend itself to crafts like future submarines. Even so, it's exciting to see Festo's robots in motion, and we're eager to see what they come up with next.
BionicFinWave
