{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/49762"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/49762","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Bio-inspired fluid locomotion","abstract":"We have developed several novel methods of locomotion at low Reynolds number, for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids: Robosnails 1 and 2, which operate on a lubrication layer, and the three-link swimmer which moves in an unbounded fluid. Robosnail 1 utilizes lubrication pressures generated in a Newtonian fluid under a steadily undulating foot to propel itself forward. Tractoring force and velocity measurements are in agreement with analytic and numerical solutions. Robosnail 2, modeled after real land snails, uses in-plane compressions of a flat foot on a mucus substitute such as Laponite or Carbopol. Robosnail 2 exploits the non-Newtonian qualities (yield-stress, shear thinning) of the fluid solution to locomote. The glue-like behavior of the unyielded fluid allows Robosnail 2 to climb up a 90 degree incline or inverted 180 degree surfaces. The three-link swimmer is a device composed of three rigid links interconnected by two out-of-phase oscillating joints. It is the first experimental test that successfully demonstrates that a swimmer of its kind can translate in the Stokes limit.","abstract_html":"We have developed several novel methods of locomotion at low Reynolds number, for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids: Robosnails 1 and 2, which operate on a lubrication layer, and the three-link swimmer which moves in an unbounded fluid. Robosnail 1 utilizes lubrication pressures generated in a Newtonian fluid under a steadily undulating foot to propel itself forward. Tractoring force and velocity measurements are in agreement with analytic and numerical solutions. Robosnail 2, modeled after real land snails, uses in-plane compressions of a flat foot on a mucus substitute such as Laponite or Carbopol. Robosnail 2 exploits the non-Newtonian qualities (yield-stress, shear thinning) of the fluid solution to locomote. The glue-like behavior of the unyielded fluid allows Robosnail 2 to climb up a 90 degree incline or inverted 180 degree surfaces. The three-link swimmer is a device composed of three rigid links interconnected by two out-of-phase oscillating joints. It is the first experimental test that successfully demonstrates that a swimmer of its kind can translate in the Stokes limit.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Chan, Brian, 1980-"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Anette Hosoi."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009","date_published":"2009","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:25Z","subjects":["Mechanical Engineering."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49762","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Anette Hosoi."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["We have developed several novel methods of locomotion at low Reynolds number, for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids: Robosnails 1 and 2, which operate on a lubrication layer, and the three-link swimmer which moves in an unbounded fluid. Robosnail 1 utilizes lubrication pressures generated in a Newtonian fluid under a steadily undulating foot to propel itself forward. Tractoring force and velocity measurements are in agreement with analytic and numerical solutions. Robosnail 2, modeled after real land snails, uses in-plane compressions of a flat foot on a mucus substitute such as Laponite or Carbopol. Robosnail 2 exploits the non-Newtonian qualities (yield-stress, shear thinning) of the fluid solution to locomote. The glue-like behavior of the unyielded fluid allows Robosnail 2 to climb up a 90 degree incline or inverted 180 degree surfaces. The three-link swimmer is a device composed of three rigid links interconnected by two out-of-phase oscillating joints. It is the first experimental test that successfully demonstrates that a swimmer of its kind can translate in the Stokes limit."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Bio-inspired fluid locomotion"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Anette Hosoi."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering."],"dc:creator":["Chan, Brian, 1980-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2009-11-06T16:31:32Z"],"dc:date.available":["2009-11-06T16:31:32Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2009"],"dc:description":["Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99)."],"dc:description.abstract":["We have developed several novel methods of locomotion at low Reynolds number, for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids: Robosnails 1 and 2, which operate on a lubrication layer, and the three-link swimmer which moves in an unbounded fluid. Robosnail 1 utilizes lubrication pressures generated in a Newtonian fluid under a steadily undulating foot to propel itself forward. Tractoring force and velocity measurements are in agreement with analytic and numerical solutions. Robosnail 2, modeled after real land snails, uses in-plane compressions of a flat foot on a mucus substitute such as Laponite or Carbopol. Robosnail 2 exploits the non-Newtonian qualities (yield-stress, shear thinning) of the fluid solution to locomote. The glue-like behavior of the unyielded fluid allows Robosnail 2 to climb up a 90 degree incline or inverted 180 degree surfaces. The three-link swimmer is a device composed of three rigid links interconnected by two out-of-phase oscillating joints. It is the first experimental test that successfully demonstrates that a swimmer of its kind can translate in the Stokes limit."],"dc:description.degree":["Ph.D."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49762"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Mechanical Engineering."],"dc:title":["Bio-inspired fluid locomotion"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:25Z"}