Robot Wing Cuts Underwater Turbulence by 87%

Scientists just solved one of robotics' toughest challenges by copying how birds and fish handle rough conditions.

Researchers at the University of Southampton developed a robotic wing that feels changes in water and automatically adjusts its shape to stay stable. Unlike rigid underwater robots that fight against currents and burn through energy, this soft wing works with the ocean instead of against it.

The secret lies in what scientists call proprioception, the same sense that lets fish feel water flow through their fins and birds detect air currents through their feathers. The team created an electronic skin using flexible liquid metal wires wrapped in silicone that act like nerves, sensing even subtle shifts in water movement.

When the wing detects a disturbance, pressurized tubes inside instantly change its stiffness and shape to counteract the force. In testing, this system reduced the jolt from sudden underwater currents by 87% compared to the rigid wings on today's autonomous underwater vehicles.

The improvements don't stop there. The new wing responds four times faster than similar soft wing designs and uses five times less energy than systems that rely on heat to change shape.

Lead researcher Leo Micklem explains the philosophy shift behind the work. "Instead of building tougher robots designed to fight the ocean's power, we are moving toward smarter, softer machines that work in synergy with the environment," he says.

The team tested their wing against both standard rigid designs and basic soft wings without sensing abilities. The results showed stability roughly double that of a barn owl during glide, though the researchers caution against direct comparisons between robots and animals.

The Ripple Effect

This technology could transform how we explore and monitor our oceans. More agile underwater robots that use less energy could stay deployed longer, collecting vital data on marine ecosystems, climate change, and ocean health. Search and rescue operations could become safer and more effective with robots that navigate turbulent waters without constant human intervention.

Professor Blair Thornton, a co-author on the study, points to the broader potential. "Ocean environments are dynamic and unpredictable, so robots must continually sense what is happening around them and respond accordingly," he notes.

The research team acknowledges challenges ahead, including scaling up the technology and integrating soft materials with the rigid components that make up most underwater vehicles today. But they also see room for even better performance with more powerful actuators.

The ocean just became a little easier to navigate.