Robotic jellyfish fueled by hydrogen

March 21, 2012 | Source: BBC News
robojelly

Robojelly (credit: BBC)

Virginia Tech engineers have invented a hydrogen-powered robot nicknamed Robojelly that moves through water like a jellyfish, intended for underwater rescue operations.

A jellyfish moves using circular muscles in the inside of its umbrella-like bell. As they contract, the bell closes in on itself and ejects water to propel itself forward. When the muscles relax, the bell regains its original shape.

To replicate this, the vehicle uses shape memory alloys, materials that “remember” their original shape, wrapped in carbon nanotubes and coated with a platinum black powder.

The robot is powered by heat-producing chemical reactions between the oxygen and hydrogen in water and the platinum on its surface. The heat from the reactions is transferred to the artificial muscles of the robot, and reshapes them.

Being fueled by hydrogen means, in theory, it will not run out of energy.