Jellyfish-inspired robot that mimics the animal`s efficient movement through the water could be used to ...
(World News Science)

A swimming robot that mimics the super-effective way that jellyfish move about underwater could soon be used to explore coral reefs and archaeological sites. Experts use a measure called the `cost of transport` to compare the movement efficiency of different species from across the animal kingdom. Such studies have show that nature`s more efficient mover — easily beating out running and flying animals and bony fish — is the moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita. These soft-bodied creatures move by squeezing their bodies in order to expel a jet of water that propels them forward. Inspired by this, engineers from Southampton and Edinburgh built a jet-driven robot that is around 10–50 times more...