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Effect of an artificial caudal fin on the performance of a biomimetic fish robot propelled by piezoelectric actuators

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Abstract

This paper addresses the design of a biomimetic fish robot actuated by piezoceramic actuators and the effect of artificial caudal fins on the fish robot’s performance. The limited bending displacement produced by a lightweight piezocomposite actuator was amplified and transformed into a large tail beat motion by means of a linkage system. Caudal fins that mimic the shape of a mackerel fin were fabricated for the purpose of examining the effect of caudal fin characteristics on thrust production at an operating frequency range. The thickness distribution of a real mackerel’s fin was measured and used to design artificial caudal fins. The thrust performance of the biomimetic fish robot propelled by fins of various thicknesses was examined in terms of the Strouhal number, the Froude number, the Reynolds number, and the power consumption. For the same fin area and aspect ratio, an artificial caudal fin with a distributed thickness shows the best forward speed and the least power consumption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Artificial Muscle Research Center, Konkuk University, 143-701, Seoul, Korea

    Seok Heo

  2. Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Konkuk University, 143-701, Seoul, Korea

    Tedy Wiguna

  3. Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Artificial Muscle Research Center and Smart Robot Center, Konkuk University, 143-701, Seoul, Korea

    Hoon Cheol Park & Nam Seo Goo

Authors
  1. Seok Heo
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  2. Tedy Wiguna
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  3. Hoon Cheol Park
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  4. Nam Seo Goo
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Correspondence to Hoon Cheol Park.

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Heo, S., Wiguna, T., Park, H.C. et al. Effect of an artificial caudal fin on the performance of a biomimetic fish robot propelled by piezoelectric actuators. J Bionic Eng 4, 151–158 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(07)60027-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(07)60027-4

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