Design and Implementation of Indigenous Bio-Inspired Flagellum's Propulsion Autonomous Surface Micro Robotic Vehicle

This research presents the design and development of a bio-inspired micro-autonomous robotic vehicle inspired by microorganisms such as Legionella bacteria. The proposed microbot mimics the flagellar propulsion mechanism found in these microorganisms, offering an ecologically superior alternative to conventional electric thrusters typically used in underwater vehicles. The development process was carried out in several stages, including mechanical design, component assembly, embedded hardware control, and the implementation of a humanmachine interface system featuring remote control, sensor data visualization, and data storage capabilities. The helical coil-based propulsion system was modeled and analyzed using Autodesk Fusion 360 and Ansys Flow Simulation. Performance testing was conducted in a 7 -meter-deep tank, where the micro-bot was wirelessly controlled in two degrees of freedom from a console. Validation of the propulsion system was performed through drag force measurement, stiffness evaluation, and thrust analysis.