Aquatic 3D Robotic Swarm
Problem statement
Aquatic 3D swarms could unlock new possibilities for coordinated, three-dimensional swarm robotics in underwater environments-enabling tasks such as high-resolution reef mapping, distributed water-quality monitoring, and collaborative search-and-rescue in confined spaces. However, current aquatic robots remain prohibitively expensive and bulky. This project addresses those limitations by developing AUV3D: a 100mm cubic miniature AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) with water-jet thrusters, granting full six-degree-of-freedom maneuverability. Leveraging 3D-printed hulls and readily available electronics keeps the cost under $100 per unit and promotes ease of manufacturing. Integrated laser rangefinders enable accurate relative positioning, and a bio-inspired electrocommunication system-built on our previous research-facilitates robust inter-robot coordination. Together, these design choices make AUV3D an accessible, scalable solution for deploying autonomous, centimeter-scale swarms in complex aquatic environments.
Team members
Nick Wendt – admin
Luke Szopa – accountant
Wade Benedict – facilitator
Zach Rusch – communicator
Client
Wei Wang
UW – Mechanical Engineering