Scientists from Kant Federal University and Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod studied the movements of aquatic organisms and identified the main stages of development of floating robots.
This was reported by the university's press service. An article in this regard was published in the journal Physics of Life Reviews.
The press service said that studying the mechanism used by fish, salamanders and turtles to move in the water enabled scientists to formulate the main stages of the process of developing biomorphic robots.
As the article explained, scientists have studied the basic mechanisms that fish, salamanders, and turtles use to move in the water and the most effective ways these mechanisms can be used by biorobotics.
The university confirmed: “We have finally formulated the main stages of the process of developing the new generation of bio-shaped floating robots.”
The article points out that since the 1990s, researchers have been developing a variety of mechanisms that robots can use to simulate the movements of aquatic organisms, but these models were not sufficient to cover the full range of movements recorded in nature.
The article stated: “Based on modern computing technologies, artificial intelligence, big data processing, smart materials and electronics, floating robots are able not only to simulate simple movements but also to demonstrate adaptive motor behavior and make decisions. This is important in the contemporary context of developing non-technical technologies.” "inhabited."
Technology : Developing "flying saucers"
The Russian company Aerosmena plans to launch a huge airship in the shape of a flying saucer.
It will be able to transport up to 600 tons of payload, and will come as a low-cost alternative to air transportation. The balloon will be able to operate without infrastructure because it flies over facilities in difficult-to-reach areas and is provided with special equipment for loading and unloading.
The production of airships is scheduled to begin in 2024, and it was stated on the company’s website that the noticeable decline in aircraft production capabilities in Russia, coupled with the economy’s growing needs to expand the air transportation system, make the issue of developing new transportation technologies very urgent.
Aerosmina believes that “air transport can be improved through the development of transport systems that not only increase the efficiency of the air transport system but also become an engine of economic growth in the Russian regions.”
It is noteworthy that the shape of the airship structure resembles a flying saucer. This shape provides the greatest amount of maneuverability and helps perform vertical take-off and landing, unlike other aircraft that have a traditional bird-like shape.
Moreover, this design, in addition to its visual appeal, will allow goods to be transported to mountainous areas and rough terrain that are inaccessible by classical means of transportation.
According to the head of Aerosmina, Sergey Bendin, the “flying saucer” design makes it possible to facilitate maneuvering and landing in crosswinds, while traditional “cigarette”-shaped airships face great difficulties in this regard. In addition, this efficient form makes it possible to transport in areas that are difficult to reach by conventional aircraft.
Aerosmina plans to conduct the necessary tests to build a balloon with a lifting capacity of up to 60 tons. After that, we will move to 200- and 600-ton balloons capable of operating at distances of up to 8,000 kilometers and at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour.
According to the Russian company, the design of the airship includes two gas chambers to provide propulsion and lift. As for the 600-ton model of the balloon, it will use 620,000 cubic meters of helium, the majority of its large cavity filled with air that is heated to 200 degrees Celsius above zero by the exhausts of eight helicopter engines responsible for lifting the payload.