"Swimming Insect Speed Inspires Uncrewed Boat Designs"
A new study from Cornell University reveals that whirligig beetles, the world's fastest-swimming insect, achieve their impressive speeds using a lift-based thrust mechanism, challenging previous explanations of their propulsion. This discovery could inspire bio-inspired designers of uncrewed boats and near-surface water robots, offering valuable insights for the development of more efficient and faster propulsion systems. The findings have potential applications in fields such as bio-inspired robotics and engineering, particularly in the design of uncrewed boats, where the small size, ship-like shape, and lift-generating propulsion mechanism of whirligigs could inform robotic ship designs.