Simulating Robot Motion in Water: Forces & Models

[sirt]

I am trying to simulate a robot moving in water.
I need to determine exactly what forces will act on the robot from the water (bouyancy is obvious, and understood).
I need a simple model that will enable me to compute what force the water will exert on the robot, when one of its parts move.
(I neglect turbulence in the water. Also, the water is static, not flowing!)
Thanks.

 

[.:JimmY:.]

The forces acting on you robot will be:
1. Gravitational (vertically downward)
2. Bouyancy (vertically upwards)
3. Viscous drag ( opposite to the direction of motion)
4. Force, your robot will apply to move.

 

[charng]

I can offer you some insights on simulating robot motion in water. Firstly, you are correct in considering buoyancy as the most obvious force acting on the robot in water. However, there are other important forces to consider such as drag and added mass.

Drag is the resistance force that the water exerts on the robot as it moves through it. This force is influenced by factors such as the shape and size of the robot, as well as the speed at which it moves. A simple model for calculating drag force is the drag equation, which takes into account the above factors.

Added mass, on the other hand, is the inertia force that the water exerts on the robot as it accelerates or decelerates. This force is dependent on the volume and shape of the robot, as well as the density of the water. A simple model for calculating added mass is the Morison equation.

In addition to these forces, you may also need to consider the effect of gravity on the robot's motion in water. This can be calculated using the weight of the robot and the buoyancy force.

To accurately simulate the motion of the robot in water, it is important to use a combination of these forces in your model. You can also incorporate the equations of motion to calculate the resulting acceleration and velocity of the robot.

It is worth noting that turbulence in water can significantly affect the forces acting on the robot and should be considered in more complex simulations. Additionally, if the water is flowing, you will need to incorporate the effects of flow velocity and direction in your model.

I hope this information helps you in your simulation. As always, it is important to continuously validate and refine your model with experimental data to ensure its accuracy. Good luck with your research!