Underwater walking robots take inspiration from bacteria with 12 spinning flagella

The underwater robot can be delicately and subtly propelled in any direction with 12 flexible arms inspired by the flagella of bacteria. Its creators claim that underwater testing can be carried out without putting humans or wildlife at risk, as does propeller-driven robots.

Flagellates are small, hairy protrusions found in many bacteria, which are spun clockwise or counterclockwise to create propulsion. “[Bacteria] There is something called a biological motor that rotates this elongate structure, and this elongate structure produces thrust, which is how the bacteria propagates.” Anup Teejo Mathew At Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi…