Advancements in Bioinspired Underwater Robotics: Design, Actuation, and Applications

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Locomotion and Bioinspired Robotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1514

Special Issue Editor

College of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: biomimetics; smart materials and structures; soft robotics; underwater robotics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioinspired underwater robotics is a rapidly advancing field that draws inspiration from aquatic organisms to design robots with superior efficiency, maneuverability, and adaptability. These robots mimic the hydrodynamic shapes and flexible materials of fish and other marine life, enabling them to move efficiently through water. Biomimetic propulsion methods, such as undulatory motion and pectoral fin propulsion, are replacing traditional propellers, while smart materials are increasingly being used to create actuators that mimic biological movement. Applications range from ocean exploration and environmental monitoring to inspection and search and rescue operations. Future research will focus on developing more autonomous, intelligent, and collaborative robots, with advancements in mechanism design, underwater environment perception, and control methods.

This Special Issue is devoted to the development of bioinspired underwater robotics. Topics of interest include the following:

  • Biomimetic Design Principles;
  • Biomimetic Propulsion Methods;
  • Biomimetic Sensors and Instrumentation;
  • Smart Materials and Structures;
  • Control Systems for Biomimetic Actuation;
  • Applications in Diverse Underwater Environments.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, short communications, and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Chao Tang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • bioinspired robotics
  • underwater robotics
  • biomimicry
  • propulsion
  • hydrodynamic design
  • smart materials
  • ocean exploration
  • environmental monitoring
  • autonomous underwater vehicles
  • robotic fish

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 8638 KB  
Article
Design and Experimental Study of Octopus-Inspired Soft Underwater Robot with Integrated Walking and Swimming Modes
by Xudong Dai, Xiaoni Chi, Liwei Pan, Hongkun Zhou, Qiuxuan Wu, Zhiyuan Hu and Jian Wang
Biomimetics 2026, 11(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11010059 - 9 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1168
Abstract
To enhance the flexibility and adaptability of underwater robots in complex environments, this paper designs an octopus-inspired soft underwater robot capable of both bipedal walking and multi-arm swimming. The robot features a rigid–flexible coupling structure consisting of a head module and eight rope-driven [...] Read more.
To enhance the flexibility and adaptability of underwater robots in complex environments, this paper designs an octopus-inspired soft underwater robot capable of both bipedal walking and multi-arm swimming. The robot features a rigid–flexible coupling structure consisting of a head module and eight rope-driven soft tentacles and integrates buoyancy adjustment and center-of-gravity balancing systems to achieve stable posture control in both motion modes. Based on the octopus’s bipedal walking and multi-arm swimming mechanisms, this study formulates gait generation strategies for each mode. In walking mode, the robot achieves underwater linear movement, turning, and in-place rotation through coordinated tentacle actuation; in swimming mode, flexible three-dimensional propulsion is realized via synchronous undulatory gaits. Experimental results demonstrate the robot’s peak thrust of 14.1 N, average swimming speed of 8.6 cm/s, and maximum speed of 15.1 cm/s, validating the effectiveness of the proposed structure and motion control strategies. This research platform offers a promising solution for adaptive movement and exploration in unstructured underwater environments. Full article
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