A Manta Ray-Inspired Biosyncretic Robot with Stable Controllability by Dynamic Electric Stimulation.

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Biomimetics
• Bio-inspired Engineering
• Soft Robotics

Background:

• Biosyncretic robots, utilizing biological materials, represent a new frontier in robotics, complementing bionic designs.
• Actuation is critical for robotic performance, driving interest in biosyncretic robots powered by living biological actuators.
• Controllable motion in biosyncretic robots requires innovative propulsion and control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a muscle tissue-based biosyncretic swimmer with a manta ray-inspired propulsion mode.
• To introduce a dynamic control method for enhancing the stable controllability of biosyncretic swimmers.
• To eliminate actuation instability caused by misalignment between tissue and electric fields.

Main Methods:

• A muscle tissue-based biosyncretic swimmer was engineered with a manta ray-inspired fin structure.
• A dynamic control method employing circularly distributed multiple electrodes (CDME) was developed.
• The CDME system enabled real-time control of the electric field direction to align with the actuation tissue.

Main Results:

• The biosyncretic swimmer demonstrated stable, controllable, and effective swimming capabilities.
• The CDME method successfully eliminated actuation instability by maintaining electric field-tissue alignment.
• Performance was modulated by adjusting electric stimulation pulse direction, amplitude, and frequency.

Conclusions:

• This study presents a novel biosyncretic swimmer with enhanced controllability through a dynamic electrode control system.
• The findings contribute to the advancement of biosyncretic robotics and offer insights for bionic soft robot design.
• The developed muscle tissue actuation and control methods have implications for muscle tissue engineering research.