This Robotic Fish Revealed a Secret Why Real Fish Swim in Short Bursts

Описание: Why Fish Swim in Short Bursts: The Energy-Saving Secret Revealed

Many aquatic animals, including larval zebrafish, swim in short bursts followed by brief gliding phases instead of moving continuously. This behavior, known as intermittent or bout-and-glide swimming, has long intrigued scientists. Is it simply a habit, or does it save energy?

To answer this, researchers from EPFL, led by Xiangxiao Liu, created a bioinspired robotic fish called ZBot, modeled after larval zebrafish. Unlike live animals, ZBot allows precise control and measurement of movement and energy use.

Experiments in both viscous and turbulent water showed that intermittent swimming consumes less energy per distance traveled than continuous swimming across most speeds. While earlier studies linked this advantage to reduced drag during gliding, this work revealed an additional factor: higher actuator efficiency. Short swimming bursts allow motors to operate in their most efficient range.

The study explains why intermittent swimming is common in nature and offers valuable ideas for designing energy-efficient underwater robots.

Read full article here: https://www.uncoverreality.in/2026/02...

Reference: 
Xiangxiao Liu et al., Energy efficiency and neural control of continuous versus intermittent swimming in a fishlike robot.Sci. Robot.11,eadw7868(2026).DOI:10.1126/scirobotics.adw7868

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