It's 5'7" long and weighs 170 pounds. And it operates by itself. Video within.
By Dan Nosowitz Posted 03.29.2013 at 4:00 pm 5 Comments

Robotic Jellyfish Swims With Its Creators
Robotic Jellyfish Swims With Its Creators Amanda Loman / Virginia Tech

Students and researchers at Virginia Tech College of Engineering have created the death of us all a human-sized autonomous robotic jellyfish, to better study the locomotion of the unusual real-life animal that was its inspiration.

Robotic Jellyfish Floats Alone
Robotic Jellyfish Floats Alone:   Amanda Loman / Virginia Tech

It's based on the lion's mane jellyfish, the world's largest known species of jellyfish, which can reach Shaquille O'Neal-like sizes in its northern oceanic habitats. The students hope to learn more about how the jellyfish moves--and why it's so big. Results have already shown that the larger jellyfish has a greater efficiency than a smaller one--it uses less energy to travel the same distance.

Virginia Tech: Autonomous Robotic Jellyfish from virginiatech on Vimeo.

This particular robot is powered by a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery, and will be tasked with operating on its own for weeks at a time. That's a big change from this team's previous robotic jelly, which we covered here. This one moves by a series of eight metal arms, which pulse in and out in a fashion reminiscent of the real-life jellyfish.

Robotic Jellyfish, In Pool With Researchers
Robotic Jellyfish, In Pool With Researchers:   Amanda Loman / Virginia Tech

The "body," such as it is, is a large, squooshy cap of silicon, more than 5.5 feet in diameter. This is very similar to the actual body of the lion's mane jellyfish, and, as you can see in the video above, it moves in a realistic way as well.

Robotic Jellyfish, Out of the Pool
Robotic Jellyfish, Out of the Pool:   Amanda Loman / Virginia Tech

5 Comments

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AnyIcon
03/29/13 at 4:29 pm

Some real jelly fish can kill. This particular jelly fish might feel like a nice soft breast. Mmmmm, I do not believe humanity is currently threaten by a robotic swimming squishy feel breast, lol.

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bernelleaoki
03/30/13 at 8:38 am

until I saw the receipt of $9631, I didnt believe ...that...my cousin woz actualey earning money in there spare time on their apple laptop.. there mums best friend has done this for only about nineteen months and recently cleard the debts on their condo and got a gorgeous Saab 99 Turbo. I went here..... BIT40.ℂOM

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quasi44
03/30/13 at 7:31 pm

So this IS news. Not the robotic jellyfish, although it's certainly very cool. I had no idea that a larger one is more efficient at locomotion.

PopSci- While you all have done great work over the years in following these specific projects and concepts, this is the first time I remember ever reading this decidedly oddball fact. If you consider that all of us creative or analytical types usually get our ideas somewhere, and that right now, our military has the request out for this specific type of craft or suitable variant, yet many out here in cyberspace just don't know what advantages a design like this can have as a potential right off the bat. There would probably be many more of these jellyfish projects if this fact were better known.

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humfreyfamoye
04/02/13 at 3:34 pm

what Wendy responded I'm blown away that some one able to get paid $9856 in 4 weeks on the internet. did you read this webpage -- Buzz80.ℂOM


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