DESIGN OF A BIOMIMETIC ROBOTIC FISH CONTROLLED BY A TOUCH SCREEN

Biomimetic robotic fish exhibits have been an attraction for many visitors in informal learning settings. Although these exhibits are entertaining to the visitors, they generally lack interactive components to promote participants' engagement. Interactivity in exhibits is an increasing trend in public educational venues, and is a crucial factor for promoting science learning among participants. In this work, we propose a novel platform for enhancing participant interaction through a robotic fish controlled by a touch screen device. Specifically, we develop and characterize a robotic fish based on a multi-link design with a pitch and buoyancy control system for three-dimensional biomimetic swimming. Performance tests are conducted to assess the robotic fish speed.