Biomimetic Rigid Hull Vehicle with Flapping Foils for Enhanced Agility in the Surf Zone and Cluttered Environments

The marine industry will benefit from the development of underwater vehicles capable of operating in difficult environments such as the surf zone and cluttered environments. This project will design, build, and test a biomimetic rigid-hull underwater vehicle utilizing flapping foils for its propulsion and maneuvering. Researchers envision that the proposed vehicle will advance our capability of observing the ocean column and performing complex underwater tasks especially in difficult environments.