Over three-fourths of the world is covered in oceans, which are unfortunately slowly being killed by pollution. Scientists have developed strategies to combat mounts of waste around coral reefs and the marine ecosystem. One of these strategies is employing robots that will lead the cleanup programs, wherein the latest one is a jellyfish-inspired underwater robot.
Science Daily reported that roboticists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Stuttgart developed the noise-free prototype jellyfish-like robot to collect wastes from the bottom of the ocean. It traps objects without physical contact to ensure safe interaction with the marine environment.
Developing the Jellyfish-Bots
The team from the Physical Intelligence and Robotic Materials departments at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have created a jellyfish-inspired robot, which they called Jellyfish-Bot. The robot is the size of a hand and has been designed to be versatile, energy-efficient, and nearly noise-free.
The research, titled "A Versatile Jellyfish-like Robotic Platform for Effective Underwater Propulsion and Manipulation" published in Science Advances, describes the various components of the robot, including the electrohydraulic actuators that serve as artificial muscles, the air cushions that surround these muscles, and the soft and rigid components that stabilize the robot and make it waterproof.
The robot is capable of underwater propulsion and manipulation, and its movement is similar to that of a real jellyfish. Jellyfish-Bot can create currents around its body, which can be used to collect objects like waste particles and fragile biological samples such as fish eggs. It has no negative impact on the surrounding environment, and its interaction with aquatic species is gentle and nearly noise-free.
Moreover, the robot consists of several layers, including some that stiffen it and keep it afloat or insulate it. Jellyfish-Bot also has a polymer layer that functions as floating skin.
Electrically powered artificial muscles called HASELs are embedded into the middle of the different layers. HASELs are liquid dielectric-filled plastic pouches that are partially covered by electrodes, and they can sustain the high electrical stresses generated by the charged electrodes.
The robot's electrodes have been designed to act as fingers or arms, which can be used to grasp objects or steer the robot in different directions. They work nearly silently, which when combined with their touch-free approach can make them an environmentally sensitive robot that can even collect fragile biological samples like fish eggs.
Revolutionizing Ocean Clean Ups
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), plastic pollution in the ocean is a significant issue. Every year, at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean, with plastic accounting for 80% of all marine debris.
The problem is severe, but the Jellyfish-Bot robot developed by researchers at MPI-IS could help clean up the oceans without disrupting the environment. As per New Atlas, it can circulate the water around it and collect waste particles or biological samples such as fish eggs, with no negative impact on the surroundings.
However, the Jellyfish-Bot has one major limitation: it must be tethered to a wire for power. The research team is working on eliminating this need and has already equipped a sample robot with a battery and wireless communication unit. While the robot could move forward, the team could not get it to change its course, but they are working on building this functionality into the robot next.
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