A Novel Underwater Biomimetic Propulsion System Derived from Zebrafish Neurological Analysis

We propose a biomimetic propulsion system inspired by the spinal motor control mechanisms of zebrafish, allowing the submersible to adapt its propulsion strategy in real time based on real-time feedback from the environment. The design consists of two components: a neurological model and a topological model. The topological model is derived from Navier-Stokes equations to simulate fluid dynamics, coupled with topology optimization methods to optimize the shape and surface interactions of the submersible with water. To evaluate the effectiveness of the system, we tested the system under two control conditions: open-loop configurations and closed configurations. The experimental results demonstrated that the topology and topological mod-els achieved significant improvements in energy efficiency and traversal time, compared to a control set-up. This design allows us to extend the operational range and duration of underwater vehicles, enabling more extensive and sustainable exploration of the ocean floor. This technology has far-reaching implications for ocean exploration, climate research, and underwater robotics. Moreover, the scalability of our design allows for potential applications in larger underwater vehicles as well as in multi-agent systems where multiple underwater vehicles work together.