A Survey on Undulatory Motion Based Robotic Fish Design

Abstract

Robotic fish design (Biomimetic) is an upcoming research area in which undulation motion has its own set of parameters to decide its efficiency. To analyse its swimming efficiency several existing robotic models using undulation motion have been thoroughly studied and few critical parameters such as fin size, shape, flexibility of material, fin flapping rate etc., have been identified. After simulating the above critical parameters using a MATLAB based CFD tool, mainly to design prototypes for research purpose which concentrates on optimizing its swimming efficiency. Several combinations of critical parameters are discussed for robotic fish prototype design by identifying critical parameters and maximizing the swimming efficiency of robotic fish based on the above properties. The fin models have been tested using Matlab based CFD tool through simulation and the swimming speed, direction have also been tested for various models. An improved benchmark for designing robotic fish model is proposed in order to simplify selection of components, architecture, and cost involve.