This paper discusses the creation of a mantas-like soft aquatic robot that uses rolled dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) for movement. The robot can swim, skate on water surfaces, and vertically ascend at high speeds. The use of DEAs is shown to be feasible for mesoscale aquatic robots in various water-related scenarios. The robot’s design is inspired by natural animals and it could be useful for long-term monitoring and exploration of aquatic environments. The paper also discusses various types of soft actuators used in robotic swimmers, including fluidic actuators and electrical driven soft actuators.
Publication date: 18 Oct 2023
Project Page: Not provided
Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.11426
