Tunabot matches speed and motion of yellowfin tuna

Yellowfin can hit speeds of around 50mph in full flight, and the researchers began by studying the biodynamics of the fish, as well as the swimming mechanics of mackerel. Based on this data, they then built a finless plastic replica fish that mimicked the tail movements of the tuna and was capable of approaching the same speeds as its real-life counterpart. The work, published in the latest edition of Science Robotics, has implications for advanced biomimetic propulsion systems that could use tail fins instead of propellers.

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"Our goal wasn't just to build a robot. We really wanted to understand the science of biological swimming," said research lead Professor Hilary Bart-Smith, from the University of Virginia’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. "Our aim was to build something that we could test hypotheses on in terms of what makes biological swimmers so fast and efficient.