M.J. Hinchey

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About

M.J. Hinchey’s research career is defined by a focused and inventive pursuit of subsea robotics, particularly the development of small, intelligent, and cost-effective underwater vehicles. His work centers on the hydrodynamics, propulsion, and control of these robots, aiming to solve practical challenges in marine exploration and monitoring. A standout contribution is his development of a novel jet propulsion device for small subsea robots, inspired by the squid’s natural mechanism, which uses a gas-operated hydraulic actuator to generate water jets for precise short-duration positioning. This work, cited 6 times, represents a creative leap in bio-inspired engineering. Hinchey also led the creation of "NO MAD," a simple pneumatic subsea robot that uses an air/water ballast tank for depth control, designed for drifting with currents to make depth profile measurements—a low-cost solution for oceanographic data collection. His broader studies on hydrodynamic loads and robot arm/body configurations (with up to 3 citations) have laid groundwork for understanding how subsea robots interact with complex underwater environments, including wave and current disturbances. Through these efforts, Hinchey has advanced the feasibility of affordable, autonomous subsea systems, making notable strides in practical marine robotics.