Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction

Abstract This paper describes a locomotion strategy for robots based on the interaction between two fluids, through the development of an untethered mobile robot. The fundamental principle of robot locomotion is to exploit the active deformations of ferrofluid caused by internal magnetic fields, whi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hiroto Kitamori, Shunsuke Kudoh, Jun Shintake
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49193-z
_version_ 1797388400331849728
author Hiroto Kitamori
Shunsuke Kudoh
Jun Shintake
author_facet Hiroto Kitamori
Shunsuke Kudoh
Jun Shintake
author_sort Hiroto Kitamori
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper describes a locomotion strategy for robots based on the interaction between two fluids, through the development of an untethered mobile robot. The fundamental principle of robot locomotion is to exploit the active deformations of ferrofluid caused by internal magnetic fields, which generate reaction forces to the surrounding fluid (in this study, water). The developed robot is equipped with two permanent magnets (PMs), two electromagnets (EMs), two clusters of ferrofluid, and a control unit with batteries. It has a length, width, and mass of 107 mm, 94 mm, and 127 g, respectively. In the robot, PMs are used to hold clusters of ferrofluid. The activation of EMs by the controller achieves forward and rotational movements of the robot. Experimental results show the forward speed and rotational speed in water to be 2.7 mm/s (at a driving frequency of 9 Hz) and 1.2°/s (at a driving frequency of 7 Hz), respectively. The measured thrust force of the robot is 2 mN, further supporting the concept of robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T22:40:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4b285237ea38458097fa5f9ef57f4336
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T22:40:16Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-4b285237ea38458097fa5f9ef57f43362023-12-17T12:12:10ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-12-011311910.1038/s41598-023-49193-zRobot locomotion by fluid–fluid interactionHiroto Kitamori0Shunsuke Kudoh1Jun Shintake2Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, The University of Electro-CommunicationsDepartment of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, The University of Electro-CommunicationsDepartment of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, The University of Electro-CommunicationsAbstract This paper describes a locomotion strategy for robots based on the interaction between two fluids, through the development of an untethered mobile robot. The fundamental principle of robot locomotion is to exploit the active deformations of ferrofluid caused by internal magnetic fields, which generate reaction forces to the surrounding fluid (in this study, water). The developed robot is equipped with two permanent magnets (PMs), two electromagnets (EMs), two clusters of ferrofluid, and a control unit with batteries. It has a length, width, and mass of 107 mm, 94 mm, and 127 g, respectively. In the robot, PMs are used to hold clusters of ferrofluid. The activation of EMs by the controller achieves forward and rotational movements of the robot. Experimental results show the forward speed and rotational speed in water to be 2.7 mm/s (at a driving frequency of 9 Hz) and 1.2°/s (at a driving frequency of 7 Hz), respectively. The measured thrust force of the robot is 2 mN, further supporting the concept of robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49193-z
spellingShingle Hiroto Kitamori
Shunsuke Kudoh
Jun Shintake
Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
Scientific Reports
title Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
title_full Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
title_fullStr Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
title_full_unstemmed Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
title_short Robot locomotion by fluid–fluid interaction
title_sort robot locomotion by fluid fluid interaction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49193-z
work_keys_str_mv AT hirotokitamori robotlocomotionbyfluidfluidinteraction
AT shunsukekudoh robotlocomotionbyfluidfluidinteraction
AT junshintake robotlocomotionbyfluidfluidinteraction