Skip to main content
Log in

A novel actuation for a robotic fish using a flexible joint

  • Robotics and Automation
  • Published:
International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents a novel actuation mechanism to enable the span-wise undulating motion of the caudal fin of a robotic fish. To minimize the mechanical components such as cams, pulleys and gears, a flexible joint-based wave machine mechanism is adopted to generate the waving motion of the caudal fin. In particular, the proposed mechanism has the advantages of minimum total weight and few mechanical components because of its simplicity. Through analysis and experiments, the efficacy of the proposed mechanism is validated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. Lighthill, “Note on the swimming of slender fish,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 305–317, October 1960.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. J. A. Sparenberg, “Survey of the mathematical theory of fish locomotion,” Journal of Engineering Mathematics, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 395–448, June 2002.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. G. V. Lauder and P. G. A. Madden, “Learning from fish: kinematics and experimental hydrodynamics for roboticists,” International Journal of Automation and Computing, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 325–335, December 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Q. S. Nguyen, S. Heo, H. C. Park, N. S. Goo, T Kang, K. J. Yoon, and S. S. Lee, “A fish robot driven by piezoceramic actuators and a miniaturized power supply,” International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 267–272, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. C. Zhou, M. Tan, N. Gu, Z. Cao, S. Wang, and L. Wang, “The design and implementation of a Biomimetic robot fish,” International Journal of Advanced Robotic System, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 185–192, June 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  6. G. Triantafyllou, M. Triantafyllou, and M. Grosenbaugh, “Optimal thrust development in oscillating foils with application to fish propulsion,” Journal of Fluids and Structures, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 205–224, February 1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. D. Lentink, G. J. F. Van Heijst, F. T. Muijres, and J. L. Van Leeuwen, “Vortex interactions with flapping wings and fins can be unpredictable,” Biology Letters, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 394–397, February 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Gopalkrishnan, M. S. Triantafyllou, G. S. Triantafyllou, and D. Barrett, “Active vorticity control in a shear flow using a flapping foil,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, vol. 274, pp. 1–21, September 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Yu, S. Wang, and M. Tan, “A simplified propulsive model of bio-mimetic robot fish and its application,” Robotica, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 101–107, January 2005.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Sfakiotakis, D. M. Lane, and J. B. C. Davies, “Review of fish swimming modes for aquatic locomotion,” IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 237–252, April 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. S. Guo, K. Wakabayashi, N. Kato, T. Fukuda, T. Nakamura, and K. Oguro, “An artificial fish robot using ICPF actuator,” Proc. International symposium on Micromechatronics and Human Science, pp. 205–210, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  12. W. Chen, D. Xia, and J. Liu, “Modular design and realization of a torpedo-shape robot fish,” Proc. of IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation, pp. 125–130, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  13. K. A. Harper, M. D. Berkemeier, and S. Grace, “Modeling the dynamics of spring driven oscillating-foil propulsion,” IEEE Oceanic Engineering, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 285–296, July 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. K. A. Morgansen, B. I. Triplett, and D. J. Klein, “Geometric methods for modeling and control of free-swimming fin-actuated underwater vehicles,” IEEE Trans. Robotics, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 1184–1199, December 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Yu, M. Tan, S. Wang, and E. Chen, “Development of a biomimetic robotic fish and its control algorithm,” IEEE Trans. Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part B: Cybernetics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 1798–1810, August 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. J. L. Tangorra, C. J. Esposito, and G. V. Lauder, “Biorobotic fins for investigations of fish locomotion,” Proc. IEEE/RSJ Int. Conf. IROS, pp. 2120–2125, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  17. G. V. Lauder and P. G. A. Madden, “Fish locomotion: kinematics and hydrodynamics of flexible foil-like fins,” Experiments in Fluids, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 641–653, July 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. K. H. Low and A. Willy, “Biomimetic motion planning of an undulating robotic fish fin,” Journal of Vibration and Control, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 1337–1359, May 2006.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  19. J. Gao, S. Bi, Y. Xu, and C. Liu, “Development and design of a robotic manta ray featuring flexible pectoral fins,” Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, pp. 519–523, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  20. S. Yang, J. Qiu, and X. Han, “Kinematics modeling and experiments of pectoral oscillation propulsion robotic fish,” Journal of Bionic Engineering, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 174–179, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Y. Cai, S. Bi, L. Zhang, and J. Gao, “Design of a robotic fish propelled by oscillating flexible pectoral foils,” Proc. of IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, pp. 2138–2142, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  22. V. V. Krylov and G. V. Pritchard, “Experimental investigation of the aquatic propulsion caused by localised flexural wave propagation in immersed wedges and plates,” Applied Acoustics, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 97–113, January 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. V. V. Krylov and E. Porteous, “Wave-like aquatic propulsion of mono-hull marine vessels,” Ocean Engineering, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 378–386, March 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. D. Yun, K.-S. Kim, S. Kim, J. Kyung, and S. Lee, “Actuation of a robotic fish caudal fin for low reaction torque,” Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 82, no. 7, pp. 075114–1–7, 2011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. D. Yun, K.-S. Kim, S. Kim, J. Kyung, and S. Lee, “Dynamic analysis of a robotic fish motion with a caudal fin with vertical phase differences,” Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 84, no. 3, pp. 036108–1–3, 2013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. D. Yun, J. Kyung, K.-S. Kim, and S. Kim, “Analysis on a robotic fish propulsion by using flexible structure,” Proc. MTS/IEEE Oceans 2012, pp. 1–4, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  27. A. Shaha, Wave Machine [Online], Available: http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/resource/2096/wave-machine, 2010.

  28. S. P. Timosenko and J. N. Goodier, Theory of Elasticity, McGraw-Hill New York, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Soohyun Kim or Kyung-Soo Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yun, D., Kim, S., Kim, KS. et al. A novel actuation for a robotic fish using a flexible joint. Int. J. Control Autom. Syst. 12, 878–885 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12555-013-0399-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12555-013-0399-8

Keywords

Navigation