The objective of this project was to create a prototype of a low-power unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that resembles a jellyfish in appearance and mimics its movement. This task was completed via the design of a unique form of propulsion and by demonstrating underwater navigational control. The propulsion is achieved through the use of Nitinol "muscle wire" that shortens when heated by an electric current, thus contracting part of the shell of the mechanical jellyfish and creating a momentum flux that slowly propels the craft through the water. Navigation is achieved through the use of a photodiode array that senses an underwater optical light source. Controls on the craft determine which photodiode is closest to the light source and subsequently activate the collocated muscle wire.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chapman, Jeremy R.
• Law, Nathaniel J.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-030609-141906

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Olinger, David J.
• Demetriou, Michael A.

Year

• 2009

Date created

• 2009-03-06

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-01-20