Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications

Traditional rigid robots, while effective in many applications, present significant challenges in environments involving human interaction or delicate objects due to their inflexible structure, which can cause damage or accidents upon collision. Additionally, rigid robots require precise control mec...

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Main Author: Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming
Format: Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/1/MH_2004767_Final_%2D_CHIN_ZHEE_MING_CHAVEZ.pdf
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/
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author Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming
author_facet Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming
author_sort Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming
building UTAR Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
content_source UTAR Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description Traditional rigid robots, while effective in many applications, present significant challenges in environments involving human interaction or delicate objects due to their inflexible structure, which can cause damage or accidents upon collision. Additionally, rigid robots require precise control mechanisms, limiting their adaptability to unpredictable conditions. In contrast, soft robots offer a safer, more versatile alternative. Their inherent elasticity reduces the risk of injury or damage during collisions and allows them to adapt to complex environments more effectively. This study investigates the application of biological locomotion mechanisms in a soft robot designed for underwater swimming. By utilizing flexible materials like Ecoflex, PVC sheets, and plastic films, the study successfully developed a soft robot capable of actuating in water. Key findings indicate that the robot was able to swim in a straight path, with optimal performance observed at an actuation frequency of 1.33 Hz and a pump voltage of 11 V. A second prototype validated directional control, allowing the robot to turn and manoeuvre precisely. This directional control, along with linear swimming, was incorporated into a swimming algorithm controlled by three push buttons. These advances contribute to the potential for soft robots in applications such as search-and-rescue operations, underwater exploration, and water quality monitoring.
format Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
id my-utar-eprints.7404
institution Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
publishDate 2024
record_format eprints
spelling my-utar-eprints.74042026-01-14T13:04:03Z Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming T Technology (General) TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics Traditional rigid robots, while effective in many applications, present significant challenges in environments involving human interaction or delicate objects due to their inflexible structure, which can cause damage or accidents upon collision. Additionally, rigid robots require precise control mechanisms, limiting their adaptability to unpredictable conditions. In contrast, soft robots offer a safer, more versatile alternative. Their inherent elasticity reduces the risk of injury or damage during collisions and allows them to adapt to complex environments more effectively. This study investigates the application of biological locomotion mechanisms in a soft robot designed for underwater swimming. By utilizing flexible materials like Ecoflex, PVC sheets, and plastic films, the study successfully developed a soft robot capable of actuating in water. Key findings indicate that the robot was able to swim in a straight path, with optimal performance observed at an actuation frequency of 1.33 Hz and a pump voltage of 11 V. A second prototype validated directional control, allowing the robot to turn and manoeuvre precisely. This directional control, along with linear swimming, was incorporated into a swimming algorithm controlled by three push buttons. These advances contribute to the potential for soft robots in applications such as search-and-rescue operations, underwater exploration, and water quality monitoring. 2024 Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/1/MH_2004767_Final_%2D_CHIN_ZHEE_MING_CHAVEZ.pdf Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming (2024) Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications. Final Year Project, UTAR. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/
spellingShingle T Technology (General)
TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Chin, Chavez Zhee Ming
Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title_full Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title_fullStr Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title_full_unstemmed Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title_short Design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
title_sort design of a swimming small soft robot for underwater applications
topic T Technology (General)
TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
url http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/1/MH_2004767_Final_%2D_CHIN_ZHEE_MING_CHAVEZ.pdf
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7404/
url_provider http://eprints.utar.edu.my