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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2025
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| Sujets: | |
| Accès en ligne: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.20964 |
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| _version_ | 1866914173112287232 |
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| author | Chowdhury, Rubaiyat Tasnim Bala, Nayan Roy, Ronojoy Mahmud, Tarek |
| author_facet | Chowdhury, Rubaiyat Tasnim Bala, Nayan Roy, Ronojoy Mahmud, Tarek |
| contents | Traditional rigid underwater vehicles pose risks to delicate marine ecosystems due to high-speed propellers and rigid hulls. This paper presents BactoBot, a low-cost, soft underwater robot designed for safe and gentle marine exploration. Inspired by the efficient flagellar propulsion of bacteria, BactoBot features 12 flexible, silicone-based arms arranged on a dodecahedral frame. Unlike high-cost research platforms, this prototype was fabricated using accessible DIY methods, including food-grade silicone molding, FDM 3D printing, and off-the-shelf DC motors. A novel multi-stage waterproofing protocol was developed to seal rotating shafts using a grease-filled chamber system, ensuring reliability at low cost. The robot was successfully tested in a controlled aquatic environment, demonstrating stable forward propulsion and turning maneuvers. With a total fabrication cost of approximately $355 USD, this project validates the feasibility of democratizing soft robotics for marine science in resource-constrained settings. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_20964 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | BactoBot: A Low-Cost, Bacteria-Inspired Soft Underwater Robot for Marine Exploration Chowdhury, Rubaiyat Tasnim Bala, Nayan Roy, Ronojoy Mahmud, Tarek Robotics Traditional rigid underwater vehicles pose risks to delicate marine ecosystems due to high-speed propellers and rigid hulls. This paper presents BactoBot, a low-cost, soft underwater robot designed for safe and gentle marine exploration. Inspired by the efficient flagellar propulsion of bacteria, BactoBot features 12 flexible, silicone-based arms arranged on a dodecahedral frame. Unlike high-cost research platforms, this prototype was fabricated using accessible DIY methods, including food-grade silicone molding, FDM 3D printing, and off-the-shelf DC motors. A novel multi-stage waterproofing protocol was developed to seal rotating shafts using a grease-filled chamber system, ensuring reliability at low cost. The robot was successfully tested in a controlled aquatic environment, demonstrating stable forward propulsion and turning maneuvers. With a total fabrication cost of approximately $355 USD, this project validates the feasibility of democratizing soft robotics for marine science in resource-constrained settings. |
| title | BactoBot: A Low-Cost, Bacteria-Inspired Soft Underwater Robot for Marine Exploration |
| topic | Robotics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.20964 |