The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Clemson University a $429,499 Project Grant under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) with a performance period of August 1, 2024 to November 30, 2027. The award will fund research to examine the hydrodynamics of aquatic robots, such as robotic swimmers and surfers, and identify the collective behaviors that emerge from flow-mediated interactions when they operate in formations. The study aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of many-body hydrodynamic interactions in the collective motion of these robotic systems at high Reynolds numbers. The research will leverage a synergistic application of high-fidelity numerical simulations and laboratory experiments to capture the unsteady flows generated by the motion of the robots. This fundamental knowledge is expected to contribute to the design and implementation of future aquatic robots capable of functioning alongside each other with a high degree of coordination, similar to the behaviors exhibited by fish schools and bird flocks. The project also includes educational activities to engage middle/high school students, mentor community college and graduate students, and develop curriculum.
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