Principle and application of Underwater Vibration Suction Method

Abstract

Underwater Vibration Suction Method (UVSM) is a novel suction strategy used in the water environment. Mimicing the suction mechanism of octopus, this method can improve the adsorptive capacity of a suction cup by making it vibrate against the wall in the water. In this paper, the fundamental principles of UVSM and its primary application are presented. First, the mathematic model of UVSM is built based on the anatomization of the underwater vibration processes of a suction cup. Then numerical simulation and experiments are conducted on a cup, and the results verify the correctness of the mathematic model. Finally, a suction module is designed based on the principles of the UVSM, and experiments on the module prove its adsorptive effectiveness in water. This new style suction module is supposed to be used in miniature underwater wall-climbing robot.Index Terms -underwater vibration suction, negative pressure, mathematic model, suction module.

Dielectric elastomer actuators for octopus inspired suction cups

“…Grasso et al developed a dynamic simulator to model the functioning of the octopus sucker and to provide the tools for the design of bioinspired artificial suction cups [11]. Other authors improved the efficiency and the performance of suction cups by exploiting traditional actuation technologies, implementing innovative control strategies [12] and improving the design [13].…”

Study on air inflow of a passive suction cup

“…Since it is dangerous for people to work in such places, the fixed equipment is extensively used to improve work safety. Several adsorption mechanisms have been reported such as vacuum pumping system [1], suction cups actuated by shape memory alloy [2], vibrating suction method [3][4] [5], and suction method on the basis of the Bernoulli's law [6]. All of them need actuators, which not only make the adsorption mechanisms much heavier, but also consume energy to maintain the adsorption force.…”