Thrust Force Modeling of the Flagella-Like Swimming Micro-Robot

Abstract

In this paper, helix tails with rectangular cross-section were designed for propelling a kind of flagella-like swimming robot. CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software was applied to analyze the major influencing factors of the robots mechanical properties. It is revealed that the thrust reaches the maximum when the helix tails cross-section width is 0.36 times the diameter. Meanwhile, the helix tails should be designed according to the requirements with the largest diameter, close to but less than 45° helix angle and multi-turns under the limitation of the workspace. Combining these simulation data with the derivation process of Resistive Force Theory, the models for the mechanical properties simulation of the swimming robot were revised, and the explicit empirical formula of propulsive force is obtained. This model lays a good foundation for the robots motion control as well as unified mathematical description for macro-scale and micro-scale robots.