Subaquatic robot leverages biomimetics for natural movement

Researchers at North Carolina State University designed an underwater robot inspired by feather stars (crinoids) that achieves three-dimensional maneuvering—moving forward, backward, up, down, and rotating in place—using only elastic limbs and two actuators. The design solves a major limitation of previous aquatic robots like their earlier manta-ray-inspired model, which lacked vertical and rotational control.