Hydrodynamic Evaluation of a Flying Fish Robotic Model Organism: A Study on the Effects of the Caudal Fin Shape

Valeria Saro-Cortes, Girguis Sedky, Hungtang Ko, Brooke Flammang, Aimy Wissa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Flying fishes are renowned for their ability to glide hundreds of meters through the air, after a taxi and takeoff behavior that is possible because of their asymmetric tail shape. To taxi, the ventral lobe of the tail, which is almost double the length of the dorsal lobe, is the only part of the fish that is in the water. The hydrodynamic effects of this asymmetric, or heterocercal tail, have never been studied. Herein, we developed a bioinspired robotic model organism based on the functional morphology of flying fishes, to experimentally control for the effect of the shape of the tail on thrust production. Using both force transducers and particle image velocimetry, we found that there was no significant difference in thrust generation between the heterocercal flying fish tails and the homocercal tails, where both tail fin lobes are equal in length, as is typical of other fishes. However, the current study employed rigid fin designs, and we anticipate that the addition of flexible fins that are more similar to the material properties of fish fins may have different results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2023 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications, CCTA 2023
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages670-674
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9798350335446
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes
Event2023 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications, CCTA 2023 - Bridgetown, Barbados
Duration: Aug 16 2023Aug 18 2023

Publication series

Name2023 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications, CCTA 2023

Conference

Conference2023 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications, CCTA 2023
Country/TerritoryBarbados
CityBridgetown
Period8/16/238/18/23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Control and Optimization

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hydrodynamic Evaluation of a Flying Fish Robotic Model Organism: A Study on the Effects of the Caudal Fin Shape'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this