A research team at Stony Brook University, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University, has received a $2.4 million grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop a robot capable of moving from air to water and then to the ocean floor.
The Stony Brook group, led by William Stewart from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is focusing on the transition of robots from air into water. The Case Western Reserve team in Cleveland, Ohio, is responsible for developing technology that enables movement from water onto the ocean floor. Both teams are drawing inspiration from crabs for their robotic designs.
Scott Carney, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook, commented on the progress: “It took nature millions of years to produce cormorants and flying fish that move seamlessly from water to air and back. Professor Stewart has engineered his way through it in only a few years.”
Stewart explained the focus of his team’s work: “What we’re looking at is how we can develop multifunctional robotic limbs and appendages that can be used both in air and in water to facilitate better control and navigation.”
The project addresses Navy needs such as military observation and communication. Stewart noted that robots designed for airdrop deployment could lead to more advanced products for naval applications.
A new test facility will be built at Stony Brook University as part of this initiative. The facility will simulate ocean conditions with wind and waves, allowing researchers to test robot prototypes and refine their designs efficiently.
Reflecting on his background, Stewart said: “My PhD was on air-water robots that could transition between the two, so in that way it’s a continuation. In my postdoc prior to coming to Stony Brook University, we did a lot of control surface development for morphing robots in the air, but not in the water. And then this is related to a project that was funded by Stony Brook’s Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) seed grant where we were doing bio-inspired sea turtle robots.”
Stewart acknowledged the complexity involved: “We’re trying to do some difficult things with the robots. Trying to get appendages that work in air and in water is rather difficult because water and air have such vastly different fluid properties that trying to bridge that gap is going to be challenging.”
The ONR grant supports collaboration across institutions and enables further advancements in robotics research.
