This technology is a flapping-based underwater robot that achieves a combined twisting and bending flapping motion within a flexible base material through the physical combination of intelligent materials that respond to external control signals and directional materials that suppress deformation in specific directions.
Existing intelligent material-based structures are limited to linear or out-of-plane bending deformations, and they face technical limitations in miniaturization and continuous motion implementation due to complex structural designs or bulky drive components.
This technology proposes a method to induce a difference in twisting angles between the first and second strokes by designing the placement of intelligent materials and the physical orientation of directional materials. This allows for efficient underwater thrust generation without the need for complex joints or multiple motors. It can be applied to underwater exploration, marine monitoring, and small underwater drones, achieving both miniaturization and low power consumption by generating propulsion through material properties alone, rather than complex joints and motors.
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