Optimal motion of an articulated body in a perfect fluid

Kanso, E. and J. E. Marsden

Proc. CDC 44, 2511-2516

Abstract:

An articulated body can propel and steer itself in a perfect fluid by changing its shape only. Our strategy for motion planning for the submerged body is based on finding the optimal shape changes that produce a desired net locomotion; that is, motion planning is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem.

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