Octopus inspired silent propeller system:
The present propulsion system in boats, submarines uses a rotating blade designed to push the water in required direction. As these spin very fast they produce noise . There is always a chance that sea creatures that come in contact with this get cut into pieces. Hence it poses a risk to the lives of aquatic creatures.
The Octopus is one of those water animal that most of the time crawl around and swim with ease in water by swishing their multiple tentacles. But sometimes when they sense a danger they swim quickly expelling jet of water avoiding their detection and this takes place silently. This speedy motion is because when it starts moving, its mantle takes the water in and closes by contracting sphincter muscles and ejects out backward through its funnel at a high pressure helping it move forward. So its able to navigate easily just by adjusting the direction of funnel in line to the direction desired.
This simple and effective way to fleet has inspired the scientists from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation to build a silent propulsion system for water vehicles which would navigate by expelling jet of water.
According to Fraunhofer Institute, their prototype model which uses this new propulsion system contains four elastomer 20 x 6 cm balls that can be built using 3D printer and mechanical system within helping in pumping water into the elastomer balls through an opening and prevents reflux using a valve and repositions the hydraulic valve. Now the hydraulic piston contracts
the structure like a muscle pushing water out from each ball thereby driving the water vehicle.
The geometry looks bit complex and needs soft plastic which directed the scientists to use Fused Depostion Modelling(FDM) generative production process and thermoplastics like polyurethane which are flexible in order to make sure the system can withstand extreme pressure and even regain original shape.
But since this is the initial stage of its development the load it can carry is less making it only applicable for jet skis, surfboards and ther small load vehicles. Soon
we would witness these replacing the threatning rotating blade propeller system and provide a silent motion.
The Octopus is one of those water animal that most of the time crawl around and swim with ease in water by swishing their multiple tentacles. But sometimes when they sense a danger they swim quickly expelling jet of water avoiding their detection and this takes place silently. This speedy motion is because when it starts moving, its mantle takes the water in and closes by contracting sphincter muscles and ejects out backward through its funnel at a high pressure helping it move forward. So its able to navigate easily just by adjusting the direction of funnel in line to the direction desired.
This simple and effective way to fleet has inspired the scientists from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation to build a silent propulsion system for water vehicles which would navigate by expelling jet of water.
According to Fraunhofer Institute, their prototype model which uses this new propulsion system contains four elastomer 20 x 6 cm balls that can be built using 3D printer and mechanical system within helping in pumping water into the elastomer balls through an opening and prevents reflux using a valve and repositions the hydraulic valve. Now the hydraulic piston contractsthe structure like a muscle pushing water out from each ball thereby driving the water vehicle.
The geometry looks bit complex and needs soft plastic which directed the scientists to use Fused Depostion Modelling(FDM) generative production process and thermoplastics like polyurethane which are flexible in order to make sure the system can withstand extreme pressure and even regain original shape.
But since this is the initial stage of its development the load it can carry is less making it only applicable for jet skis, surfboards and ther small load vehicles. Soon
we would witness these replacing the threatning rotating blade propeller system and provide a silent motion.
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