USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jennifer M Nunes

Alexander Tsarev

Christopher M Nunes

Roger J Kleinmann

Jeeven B Hugh

An exemplary inventive molding device includes two mold components characterized by matching rounded-star shapes. Each mold component includes eight congruent rounded-tip projections and eight congruent apertured sections separated from each other by the projections and describing a ring shape. The projections correspond to the equiangular points of a star. Each section has a medial hole and is interposed between and connects two projections. The mold components are joined so that their respective projections and holes are even with each other and fasteners are installed through the holes. Appropriate introduction and curing of a castable material inside the joined mold components produces a flexible device suitable for use as part of a biomimicking soft robot.

Method and apparatus for making a soft robotic marine animal

The main components of an exemplary inventive simulation are a towing platform (such as a ship), a towed body, an underwater vehicle (such as a UUV), and a tow cable connecting the towing platform and the towed body. An objective of the dynamic arrangement of the components is to perform a 'line capture' of the moving vehicle by the cable. Respective motions and positions of the towing platform and the towed body affect the cable. Waves and currents in the water, as well as changes in catenary and tension of the cable, affect the tow body. Advantageously, the invention more accurately accounts not only for continuities, but also for discontinuities, characterizing the dynamic interrelationships between and among the components. Among the invention's features is its ability to 'trigger' consideration of certain dynamic manifestations relating to the vehicle, depending on whether or not the vehicle is in a captured state.

Growing community of inventors

Cabin John, MD, United States of America

Jennifer M Nunes