Squid power slithers into dock

Vortex thrusters inspired by squid, jellyfish and other cephalopods could make it easier for scientists to manoeuvre and dock underwater vehicles at low speeds and with greater precision.

The University of Colorado at Boulder research may even allow doctors to guide tiny capsules with jet thrusters through the human digestive tract, enabling them to diagnose disease and dispense medications.

Researcher Kamran Mohseni, said: ‘Reliable docking mechanisms are essential for the operation of underwater vehicles, especially in harsh environments. We set out to resolve the trade off that many researchers settle for, which is a faster, but less precise, vehicle or a boxier one that is not as fast and more difficult to transport to work locations.’

While the torpedo shape of some underwater vehicles ensures rapid deployment and high cruising speeds with minimal energy, their hydrodynamic design makes them more difficult to manoeuvre or dock at low speeds and in tight spaces, or to hover in precise locations.