Tommaso Ranzani

A Soft Jet Propulsion System for Underwater Navigation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will entail the fabrication of a hierarchical jet propulsion system to provide underwater locomotion for an octopus robot. This structure involves a primary and secondary system, generating one-directional and rotational motion, respectively. We will design and fabricate the primary jet propulsion system and the mantle in which it is embedded. Two methodologies will be investigated. One method will exploit the properties of magnetorheological elastomers and electropermanent magnets to contract the mantle of the robot to produce thrust. The other will be based on the current state of the art of cable-driven jet-propelled robots. In addition to fabrication, the student will also characterize the force output of the thrust generated by these two methodologies and determine the most efficient one.

LABORATORY MENTOR
Leah Gaeta

RESEARCH GOALS
– Design of a soft jet propulsion system inspired by the octopus
– Design of an on-board actuation system to move such jet propulsion system
– Experimental validation of theoretical predictions

LEARNING GOALS
– Design and manufacturing of soft bioinspired robotic structures
– Designs and modeling of jet propulsion systems for underwater locomotion
– Experimental validation and characterization of prototypes
– Work in a team
– Work towards a scientific publication

Learn more about Assistant Professor Ranzani on his faculty page.