14 DAY TRIAL // There is something magic in the sleek propulsion of an octopus or a jellyfish.
Now, that movement will be copied by a new generation of compact vortex generators for an easier maneuverability of underwater vehicles at low speeds.
Moreover, the technology could soon permit doctors to introduce tiny capsules with jet thrusters through the human digestive tract, ensuring a close and precise diagnose. "Reliable docking mechanisms are essential for the operation of underwater vehicles, especially in harsh environments," said Kamran Mohseni, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering sciences. "We set out to resolve the trade off that many researchers settle for, which is a faster, but less precise, vehicle or a boxier one that is not as fast and more difficult to transport to work locations."
Manned and unmanned underwater vehicles made possible for researchers to reach deep sea ecosystems, from undersea volcanoes near Hawaii to the icy depths beneath ice sheets in the North and South poles.
While the torpedo design ensures speed with minimal energy, the hydrodynamic shape of these vehicles makes them more difficult to maneuver at low speeds and in tight spaces, or to hover in precise locations, when scientific analyses are required. Vehicles with boxier designs are easier to maneuver, but speed is sacrificed.
The new vortex thrusters should offer speed with versatility, improving these vehicles a lot. Many designers are searching to develop better docking systems for underwater vehicles, but the new vehicle improves the vehicle's actual maneuvering capabilities.
The new generators imitate the formation of vortex rings like those formed by the squid, octopus, cattle fish and jellyfish to move themselves underwater. The rings emerge when the animal ejects fluid shoots out of a narrow opening, pushing forward the animal's body (photo bellow).
The nature-inspired vortex generators could have much more applications - like medical ones - in exploring the digestive tract. Till now, the team has developed and tested three separate unmanned underwater vehicles, the latest model conducting a successful parallel parking test.
Image credit: CU-Boulder
