Learning Based Speed Control of Soft Robotic Fish

Bioinspired robotics takes advantage of biological systems in nature for morphology, action and perception to build advanced robots of compelling performance and wide application. This paper focuses on the design, modeling and control of a bioinspired robotic fish. The design utilizes a recently-developed artificial muscle named super coiled polymer for actuation and a soft material (silicone rubber) for building the robot body. The paper proposes a learning based speed control design approach for bioinspired robotic fish using model-free reinforcement learning. Based on a mathematically tractable dynamic model derived by approximating the robotic fish with a three-link robot, speed control simulation is conducted to demonstrate and validate the control design method. Exampled with a three-link reduced-order dynamic system, the proposed learning based control design approach is applicable to many and various complicated bioinspired robotic systems.