Recent advancements in biomimetic application in underwater glider development: Current opportunities and future trends

The underwater gliders (UWGs) have emerged as an attractive tool for oceanographic exploration, and marine and aquatic research because of their reduced energy consumption, lower operational noise levels, and extended operational ranges compared to conventional autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This research sheds light on the recent advancements and challenges in biomimetic UWG designs, which are aimed to enhance performance through inspiration from biological lifeforms. Despite reaching an operational depth of up to 11 km, current UWG technologies still face numerous limitations as the fields of UWG applications nowadays require special adaptations as per specific conditions that revolve around better manoeuvrability, higher speed, and operational variability. This review highlights various biomimetic strategies, such as dolphin-inspired flappers and manta ray-like propulsion systems, which offer promising solutions to the challenges. A bibliometric analysis underscores a growing research interest in UWG technology in past decades. Yet, it reveals a substantial gap in biomimetic application studies regarding the limiting issues, suggesting a need for intensified research efforts. Future trends indicate the need to shift the research and investigations towards more hydrodynamically efficient designs, integrating advanced control systems to overcome existing limitations and enhance the utility of the UWGs in adverse underwater environments and challenges.