A group of mechanical engineering students at ETH Zurich in Switzerland have created an omnidirectional underwater robot, dubbed Sepios, that is inspired by the cuttlefish.
The cuttlefish is a fascinating creature that using a pair of undulating fins to move forward and backward, turn on the spot or hover in position. Therefore it's a good source of inspiration when you're putting together an underwater robot that is flexible in movement yet immune to getting tangled up in its own propellers. In addition, Sepios has been given an extra set of fins that allow it to move straight up and down.
The robot can function for 90 minutes on a full battery charge and can access depths up to 10 meters. It is expected to be particularly useful for observing and filming marine life.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Omnidirectional Underwater Robots
- Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in developing more advanced and versatile underwater robots that can move in any direction.
- Bio-inspired Robotics
- The use of biological systems and creatures as inspiration for robotic design presents opportunities for creating innovative and efficient robots.
- Underwater Exploration and Filming
- Opportunities exist for creating technologies and tools that enhance underwater exploration and filming, revolutionizing the way we observe and document marine life.
Sectors Adopting This
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical engineering professionals can explore disruptive innovation opportunities in developing advanced robotic systems inspired by biological creatures.
- Robotics
- The robotics industry can leverage the trend of bio-inspired designs to create more efficient and versatile robots for various applications.
- Marine Biology and Filmmaking
- Professionals in marine biology and filmmaking can harness the trend of underwater exploration and filming to develop new technologies and techniques for studying and documenting marine life.
