Researchers creating flexible fin to make AUVs more agile

If a wave of déjà vu just hit you like a ton of bricks, fret not, as this most certainly isn't the first (or second) time we've heard of researchers looking to the seas to create more intelligent / nimble submersibles. Apparently, a few more folks have gotten involved, as gurus from Drexel, MIT, Harvard and George Washington are now collaborating to develop a "fish-like fin to make autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) more agile." Apparently, the current iteration has improved on prior versions by eliminating drag during part of the "cut and sweep" motion. The general idea is to combine several of the fins in order to "allow robotic submarines to hover and turn on a dime as natural swimmers can," but it'll still be quite some time before devices such as this one can overcome ocean currents and ill-willed sea creatures.

[mushrooshi @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:50AM]

A and B look like alien wedding dresses.

[Reader @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:50AM]

It's really amazing that still in the 21st century we fail to duplicate nature in areas such as these. You'd think we would be able to make an efficient ornithopter by now. Wouldn't mind a lasgun to go with one either...

[GameboyRMH @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:48AM]

You can buy a pretty decent ornithopter from Radio Shack for $50, so I don't think an efficient one is that far off.

http://www.flytechonline.com/Watch.html

[zfurie @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:41AM]

In the near future, our robotic overlords' favored delicacy is robotic shark fin soup!





tough crowd! tough crowd!

[JLRMD2000 @ Mar 2nd 2008 12:41PM]

Star wars here we come

[HarrytheHood @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:54PM]

I misread that title and thought it was UAVs, I thought that would be so cool, a predator drone with flapping wings...imagine my disapointment.