Mysterious oarfish's fins inspire large underwater robot design
When designing a large underwater robot that could swim silently to avoid startling sea creatures, roboticist Rob Shepherd considered the unusual swimming system of oarfish, the meters-long fish whose ribbon-like dorsal fin moves in waves to propel its body.
Rob Shepherd, a roboticist at Cornell University, drew inspiration from the oarfish's unique swimming mechanism when designing a large underwater robot. The oarfish, a rare and elusive fish that can reach a length of up to 8 meters, propels itself by using a ribbon-like dorsal fin to create waves in the membrane connecting its fin rays.
These fin rays can rotate independently in a full circle, a rare trait among bony fishes. This unique locomotion was first described in a study published in the journal Ichthyology and Herpetology. The study, led by Shepherd and ichthyologist Willy Bemis, examined the anatomy and muscles of the oarfish's fin rays, revealing that they are attached to a thin membrane and cartilage, with a series of muscles enabling the rotary movement.
The researchers found that the fin rays wave in different directions, allowing for precise control of the oarfish's movement. This discovery could serve as a model for designing quiet underwater robots that can move silently to study ocean health without disturbing marine life.
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