Tag: #flapping-propulsion
Back to all newsThe laboratory team was interviewed by Uonline News (大學報) at National Chengchi University (NCCU) about their bio-inspired amphibious unmanned vehicles modelled after black ghost knifefish and mudskippers. Their award-winning designs attracted media attention during a showcase at a biomimicry competition.
The lab received two awards in the College & Youth Innovation category (大專暨青創組) at the 2026 Bionic Design Competition (仿生設計競賽). The mudskipper-inspired design received the Marine Sustainability Innovation Award (海洋永續創新獎) from the Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, while the silkmoth-inspired robot, drawing on the silkmoth’s odour-sensing abilities, received the Circular Economy Smart Reduction Award (循環經濟智慧減量獎) from the Environmental Protection Department, New Taipei City Government.
Two student teams from the lab received Honourable Mentions (佳作) at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Project Competition (專題研究成果競賽), with projects on an underwater bio-inspired stingray vehicle and a maple-seed-inspired unmanned aerial vehicle.
Two undergraduate teams from the laboratory shared First Place in the Engineering Technology category at the National University System of Taiwan (NUST, 臺灣國立大學系統) Scientific Paper Competition (科技論文競賽), with projects inspired by stingrays and maple seeds. A postgraduate team also received an Honorable Mention Award (佳作) for its dragonfly-inspired drone research.
Three undergraduate students supervised by Dr Lan received an Honourable Mention（佳作）in the Capstone Project (機械設計與製作專題) competition. Their project explored a bio-inspired ray system, applying ray-like propulsion principles to demonstrate the potential of biomimetic design in underwater robotics.
Three undergraduates, supervised by Dr Lan, won 1st place at the 2025 Ocean Challenge (臺灣海洋國際青年論壇) with a manta ray-inspired underwater vehicle.
Dr Lan and his research team were recognised by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), with their latest study featured on the Kudos Showcase platform. The research found that stingray-inspired asymmetric flapping motions can improve thrust while reducing energy consumption, supporting the development of more efficient underwater vehicles and robots.
Dr Lan, Dr Lai and their team published a study in Physics of Fluids showing that stingray-inspired asymmetric flapping can improve underwater propulsion efficiency. Using optimisation techniques and flow simulations, the research identified motion patterns that enhance vortex dynamics and support the design of biomimetic aquatic robots.
For more information please refer to https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0253805.
Dr Lai’s team and Dr Lan published a study in Physics of Fluids examining how manta-inspired asymmetric swimming motions can improve underwater vehicle efficiency. The research identified motion parameters that enhance thrust and propulsion performance, supporting advances in biomimetic underwater technology.
For more information please refer to https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0229833.