Locomotion by mechanical pectoral fins

The objectives of this study were the development of a new device for maneuvering an underwater vehicle using the mechanism of a fish swimming, an experimental and theoretical analysis of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the device, and its application to maneuvering a fish robot. Observations and experimental analysis of the pectoral fins of a black bass (Micropterus salmoides) revealed that the locomotion of the fish, such as swimming forward at low speed, swimming backward, and turning in a horizontal plane is generated by using a combination of a feathering motion and a lead-lag motion of the pectoral fins. A mechanical pectoral fin making a feathering motion and a lead-lag motion generates a thrust force in a range of phase differences between both motions. The unsteady vortex lattice method, including the effect of viscosity, can express fairly well the unsteady forces acting on the mechanical pectoral fin in the range of phase differences where it exerts the thrust force. The fish robot, consisting of a model fish body and a pair of mechanical pectoral fins, can not only swim forward and turn in almost the same position, but can also swim in a lateral direction without changing the yaw angle.