Copebot: Underwater Soft Robot with Copepod-Like Locomotion

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Biomimetics
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Developing high-speed, accurate robots remains a significant challenge.
• Copepods exhibit rapid escape responses using explosive curved jumps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and prototype a combustion-driven underwater soft robot, the "copebot."
• To mimic copepod explosive jumps for high-speed, accurate underwater locomotion.

Main Methods:

• A novel combustion-driven soft robot design was developed.
• Thrust generation and actuation performance were quantitatively tested.
• Parametric studies investigated kinematic performance sensitivity.

Main Results:

• The copebot achieved high initial acceleration (850 body length·s⁻²), eight times faster than previous designs.
• The robot demonstrated accurate jumps, 360° rotation capability, and out-of-water landing.
• A prototype successfully jumped, landed, transmitted data, and returned to water.

Conclusions:

• The copebot design enables high-performance biomimetic underwater robots.
• This technology opens avenues for multifunctional robotic applications requiring speed and accuracy.