{"ID":2865900,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.20964","arxiv_id":"2509.20964","title":"BactoBot: A Low-Cost, Bacteria-Inspired Soft Underwater Robot for Marine Exploration","abstract":"Traditional rigid underwater vehicles pose risks to delicate marine ecosystems due to high-speed propellers and rigid hulls. This paper presents BactoBot, a low-cost, soft underwater robot designed for safe and gentle marine exploration. Inspired by the efficient flagellar propulsion of bacteria, BactoBot features 12 flexible, silicone-based arms arranged on a dodecahedral frame. Unlike high-cost research platforms, this prototype was fabricated using accessible DIY methods, including food-grade silicone molding, FDM 3D printing, and off-the-shelf DC motors. A novel multi-stage waterproofing protocol was developed to seal rotating shafts using a grease-filled chamber system, ensuring reliability at low cost. The robot was successfully tested in a controlled aquatic environment, demonstrating stable forward propulsion and turning maneuvers. With a total fabrication cost of approximately $355 USD, this project validates the feasibility of democratizing soft robotics for marine science in resource-constrained settings.","short_abstract":"Traditional rigid underwater vehicles pose risks to delicate marine ecosystems due to high-speed propellers and rigid hulls. This paper presents BactoBot, a low-cost, soft underwater robot designed for safe and gentle marine exploration. Inspired by the efficient flagellar propulsion of bacteria, BactoBot features 12 f...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.20964","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.20964v2","authors":"[\"Rubaiyat Tasnim Chowdhury\",\"Nayan Bala\",\"Ronojoy Roy\",\"Tarek Mahmud\"]","published":"2025-09-25T10:04:55Z","proceeding":"cs.RO","tasks":"[\"cs.RO\"]","methods":"[\"LoRA\"]","has_code":false}