RICE made underwater robot swim with water
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Policies You may unsubscribe at any time.
Rice University students have made a breakthrough in underwater robotics by creating a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that utilizes water-splitting fuel cells for buoyancy control. This innovative design significantly improves over traditional thruster-based methods, paving the way for quieter, more energy-efficient autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Fuel cell-powered buoyancy control
The ROV, aptly named “BayMax” by its creators – Team BayMax – represents a significant leap forward in underwater vehicle technology. The team, comprised of Andrew Bare, Spencer Darwall, Noah Elzner, Rafe Neathery, Ethan Peck, and Dan Zislis, drew inspiration from a research paper co-authored by their sponsor, Professor Fathi Ghorbel. This paper explored the potential of fuel cell-based buoyancy control devices (BCDs) to revolutionize AUV operation.
Featured Video RelatedTraditional AUVs rely on thrusters or pumps to adjust depth, which consumes considerable energy and generates noise. Team BayMax’s design replaces this system with a BCD that employs reversible hydrogen fuel cells. By splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, the BCD can precisely control the ROV’s buoyancy, mimicking the swim bladders found in fish.
This approach offers many advantages. “The cool thing about this for us is that it’s cutting-edge technology,” remarked Bare. We’re the first to implement it in a device with such comprehensive controls, making it truly groundbreaking.”
Use cases and spectrum of applications
Professor Ghorbel echoed Bare’s enthusiasm, highlighting the technology’s vast potential. “This highly energy-efficient and silent system has applications beyond AUVs,” he explained. “It holds promise for material intelligence, wearable assistive devices, and even adaptive robotic garments.”
The BCD system operates by utilizing electricity to separate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen within the fuel cell. These gases then inflate balloons, causing the ROV to rise. To descend, the process is reversed, with the fuel cell uniting the hydrogen and oxygen back into the water, releasing energy and reducing buoyancy.
Team BayMax’s design incorporates a comprehensive sensor suite that monitors system health and the ROV’s position and orientation. This data is relayed to a user-friendly dashboard displaying real-time information, including depth graphs, a virtual orientation simulation, and a visual representation of the BCD’s activation state.
Collaborative effort fueled by passion
The project’s success stemmed from the shared passion of Team BayMax members, all driven by a desire to push their boundaries. “We came together due to our interest in robotics and vehicle engineering,” shared Zislis. “We knew our combined expertise would enable us to learn from and challenge each other throughout this ambitious project.”
One of the team’s biggest hurdles was managing the intricate interplay between various systems. “Integration was paramount for a project of this complexity,” emphasized Zislis. “We prioritized clear scope definition. We could have delved into fuel cell optimization or robotic arm development, but we opted to streamline these aspects to focus on the core BCD technology. This strategic decision-making is a cornerstone of good engineering, applicable to all aspects of life.”
The team’s dedication culminated in a well-deserved second-place finish at the annual Huff OEDK Engineering Design Showcase’s Willy Revolution Award for Outstanding Innovation. This recognition serves as a testament to their ingenuity and perseverance.
Source: RICE University
(责任编辑:产品中心)
- Aricell CEO arrested in first case under industrial accidents law
- Resident Evil 3 Benchmarked
- 开年即高光!新会陈皮、新会柑携手荣登土特产大众口碑百强榜
- Lee insists again on universal COVID
- Unionized hospital workers pull out from strike
- Pixel 9 Pro XL hands
- Saudi Future Investment Initiative goes on despite western CEOs dropping out
- 5 Days of Awesome Wallpapers: Geometric and Architectural Wallpapers
- 通堵点 补短板 全力推进污水和垃圾处理设施项目实施
- World's first 18650
- China's World Cup flop sparks fury
- North Korean drone intruded on no
- [Graphic News] 93.7% of S. Koreans consider climate crisis ‘serious’: survey
-
Echo Dot (5th gen) deal — get it for $29.99 at Amazon
GET $20 OFF:As of Aug. 23, you can get an Echo Dot (5th gen) for $29.99 at Amazon, down from $49.99. ...[详细] -
Why I use this app instead of Google Maps to get around
Essentials Weekspotlights unexpected items that make our daily lives just a little bit better.For pl ...[详细] -
Bomb found at George Soros’ home
Popular in News & Politics What Exactly Does Nikki Haley Expect Her ...[详细] -
NK replaces party secretary, defense minister in major reshuffle
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 1 shows the North h ...[详细] -
New image shows the North Star is changing. And it has spots.
Some 430 light-years from Earth lies our stalwart cosmic beacon, the North Star.Except this star is ...[详细] -
□毛建国这段时间,春光正好,很多地方的赏花点何尝没有类似的画面?而当我们谴责不文明观花行为时,也不妨“求诸己”,我们在平时有没有类似动作?“横看成岭侧成峰,远近高低各不同。”同一个现象,从不同的角度、 ...[详细]
-
Amazon will build a new office in NYC after all
Does anybody have the Dashboard Confessional song "Vindicated" on hand?A report from the Wall Street ...[详细] -
S. Korea, US allay jitters over possible rift in extended deterrence against NK
President Joe Biden walks over to speak to reporters after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn ...[详细] -
Apple to start manufacturing iPhone Pro in India, report claims
The first iPhone Pro models to be made in India could be coming as soon as September or October this ...[详细] -
Nearly 1,500 caught drunk driving in first 4 days of 'living with COVID
Police officers check vehicles for drunk driving at a DUI checkpoint in Seoul, Saturday. (Yonhap)Nea ...[详细]
- Anatomy of a Keyboard
- Arkansas ad targeted at black voters says Democrats will bring back lynchings.
- 今年前2月全市商品房市场开局平稳
- Why I use this app instead of Google Maps to get around
- If aliens harnessed solar power, could we detect them? NASA investigated.
- N. Korea in final stage of building 10,000 apartment units in capital: state media
- New cases over 2,000 for 4th day amid relaxed virus curbs