Hydrodynamic Analysis of Biomimetic Robot Fish Using OpenFOAM

Abstract

In this paper, a Three-Dimensional (3D) Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation of a biomimetic robot fish is studied. The OpenFOAM software is used to define the movement of the robot fish and the dynamic mesh is used to mimic the fish swimming in water. Hydrodynamic analysis has been done to analyze the motion of the robot in water. Furthermore, this paper provides comparative data about hydrodynamic properties to improve the design, remote control, and flexibility of the underwater robot fish. In addition, it discusses how the fish oscillates the tail and the caudal fin to push water away behind it and get the thrust pushing it forward.