Grant award for tuna biomimicking ROV
USA-based Boston Engineering has announced the award of a $500,000 START Stage III grant from MassVentures to accelerate the commercialisation of its BIOSwimmer and related autonomous UUV technology.
START is a $3 million annual state initiative administered by MassVentures to help growing Massachusetts-based companies commercialise technologies developed under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts.
“MassVentures has been a trusted partner throughout the development of our game-changing underwater robotics, and we appreciate the continued support,” said Mark Smithers, co-founder and chief technology officer of Boston Engineering. “The START program reflects the commonwealth’s commitment to fostering new opportunities for businesses and its skilled workforce.”
The BIOSwimmer is a biologically-inspired UUV that replicates the dynamics of a biological fish to move rapidly and accurately – and to operate in areas inaccessible by other vehicles. The highly maneuverable UUV performs operations that include inspecting ships, securing ports, and conducting infrastructure searches more rapidly, more accurately, and in more challenging areas than other underwater solutions.
Biomimicry is reverse engineering design attributes of living creatures to improve products. The BIOSwimmer was based on the physical properties of a tuna, which Boston Engineering found to be the most energy efficient ‘design’ of fish. The first step in the long road to the BIOSwimmer was to accurately measure the bodies of several fish. The team quickly found out that the first two-thirds of a tuna’s body does not actually bend during swimming. This lends itself well to use as a flexible tailed ROV, as this rigid first two-thirds of the body is an ideal place to store the control systems, batteries etc.
“Our vehicle solutions are addressing the need to keep people working in maritime environments out of harm’s way and to enhance underwater security, research, maintenance, and other applications,” said Michael Rufo, director of Boston Engineering’s Advanced Systems Group. “The START grant provides us with a unique opportunity to bring our UUV technology forward into homeland security, oil & gas, and other significant markets.”
By Jake Frith
