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Robotic Jellyfish Explorers

February 28, 2024

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Emily Velasco
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evelasco@caltech.edu
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Caltech's Dabiri Lab takes another step towards equipping jellyfish to survey the ocean depths by developing a jellyfish cap that enhances swimming speed and efficiency, while carrying sensors and maintaining neutral buoyancy.

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Video

Robotic Jellyfish Explorers
Caltech's Dabiri Lab takes another step towards equipping jellyfish to survey the ocean depths by developing a jellyfish cap that enhances swimming speed and efficiency, while carrying sensors and maintaining neutral buoyancy.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (476 MB)

Images and Graphics

An animated gif visualizing the flow around a jellyfish with a forebody cap attachment

Jellyfish with cap
In this animated gif, the flow of water around a jellyfish wearing a streamlined cap is visualized using small, suspended particles and a light source.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (2.9 MB)

An animated gif visualizing the flow around a jellyfish without a forebody cap attachment

Jellyfish without cap
In this animated gif, the flow of water around a jellyfish in its natural state is visualized using small, suspended particles and a light source.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (3.5 MB)

Flow visualization around the jellyfish body

Jellyfish with cap
The flow of water around a jellyfish wearing a streamlined cap is visualized using small, suspended particles and a light source.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (1.7 MB)

Flow visualization around the jellyfish body

Jellyfish without cap
The flow of water around a jellyfish in its natural state is visualized using small, suspended particles and a light source.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (951 KB)

An animated gif showing a comparison between jellyfish swimming with and without the forebody cap

Comparison of swimming speeds
In this animated gif, the swimming speed of a jellyfish with a forebody and without a forebody can be compared as they descend through a three-story tank of water. (Tank rotated 90 degrees in image)
Credit: Caltech
Download file (3.5 MB)

An artist's illustration of jellyfish with attached electromechanic devices

Artist's rendering
This artwork by Rebecca Konte depicts a smack (group) of biohybrid robot jellyfish in the sea.
Credit: Caltech/Rebecca Konte
Download file (18 MB)

Jellyfish outfitted with mechanical attachments swimming in a tank in John Dabiri's lab

Time-lapse image
This time-lapse composite image shows a biohybrid robot jellyfish descending through the three-story tank designed for testing the swimming abilities of the modified creatures.
Credit: Caltech
Download file (529 KB)

Simon Anuszczyk and John Dabiri in their lab

Authors
Simon Anuszczyk (MS '22) (left) and John Dabiri (MS '03, PhD '05) (right).
Credit: Caltech
Download file (26 MB)

Additional Resources