Drawing inspiration from current-riding fish, Caltech scientists have revolutionized underwater robotics by programming autonomous vessels to harness, rather than battle, powerful ocean currents to travel through the ocean.
Nature's Blueprint: Biomimicry Drives Robotic Innovation
As part of their ongoing research, the scientists have been studying the natural ability of jellyfish to drift through the ocean, outfitting them with electronics and prosthetic “hats” to enable the ocean jellies to carry scientific instruments through deep waters while transmitting valuable data back to researchers on the surface.
For their newest breakthrough, they turned to the previously built CARL-Bot (Caltech Autonomous Reinforcement Learning roBot), which features a single onboard accelerometer to measure how it moves around as it is pushed by vortex rings. The scientists witnessed the robot occasionally getting caught up in a vortex ring and being pushed clear across a testing tank, and they looked into whether the effect on the bot could be done intentionally.
The team developed simple commands to help CARL detect a vortex ring's relative location and then position itself to “hop on and catch a ride basically for free across the tank.” The bot can also “decide” to get out of the way of a vortex ring it does not want to get pushed by.
“We know that augmented jellyfish can be great ocean explorers, but they don't have a brain,” said Dr. John Dabiri, who led the study. “So, one of the things we've been working on is developing what that brain would look like if we were to imbue these systems with the ability to make decisions underwater.”
Ultimately, the breakthrough supports complex AI navigation systems, in which underwater vehicles could use turbulent water currents navigate more freely through the ocean.
Standards serve as the invisible backbone of robotic marvels and the advancements of drones from land to sea. The Association for Advancing Automation (formerly the Robotic Industries Association), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has many standards to support industrial robots, such as American National Standard (ANS) ANSI/RIA R15.06, Industrial Robots and Robot Systems – Safety Requirements.
Another standard, UL 1740, Standard for Robots and Robotic Equipment, is an ANS developed by UL Standards & Engagement, a member and audited designator of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), that provides safety guidelines surrounding robotic equipment and systems intended for indoor and outdoor use. Also available for safer industry, the American National Standard ISA 62443-1-1-2018, Security for industrial automation and control systems Part 4-1: Product security development life-cycle requirements, specifies process requirements for the secure development of products used in industrial automation and control systems. It was developed by ANSI member and accredited standards developer the International Society of Automation (ISA).
Standards even power lawn robotics: ANSI/OPEI 60335-2-107-2020, Household And Similar Electrical Appliances - Safety - Part 2-107: Particular Requirements For Robotic Battery Powered Electrical Lawnmowers, specifies safety requirements and their verification for the design and construction of robotic battery-powered electrical rotary lawnmowers. This standard, issued jointly by CSA Group and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), also provides requirements for the safety of mains-powered charging stations and signal sources for perimeter delimiters.
Read more about how technophiles may be inspired by the latest robotic breakthroughs and how standards support these innovations in ANSI’s related coverage.