Robot Shows How Simple Swimming Can Be

A robotic eel designed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) can swim through water, receiving sensory data while in motion.

The AgnathaX robot does not employ centralized programming, relying instead on skin sensors that can detect pressure changes in the surrounding water.

The sensors are connected to the robot's motorized segments, enabling AgnathaX to produce swimming motions even if its segments are unconnected.

This mechanism supports a peripheral control system for robots, and EPFL's Robin Thandiackal and Kamilo Melo said, “Robots that have our complete control architecture, with both peripheral and central components, are remarkably fault-tolerant and robust against damage in their sensors, communication buses, and control circuits.”


From IEEE Spectrum
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