From Florida to Poland, Global Fellow Advances the Next Generation of Robotic Swimmers

When fish move through water, they do so with an efficiency and agility that even the most advanced underwater vehicles struggle to match. At the University of Florida, Patrick Musgrave is working to bridge that gap.

Musgrave, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, is using support from the UF International Center’s Global Fellows Program to develop a new research collaboration in Poland. During the first two weeks of August, he traveled to Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) to work with Piotr Bartkowski on developing fish-inspired robotic swimmers with soft, flexible bodies and integrated electronics.

Their partnership brings together complementary expertise in soft robotics, flexible electronics and bio-inspired design. Together, the researchers aim to develop underwater robots capable of navigating environments that are challenging for conventional vehicles, with potential applications in ocean monitoring and the study of aquatic ecosystems.

“It was a productive trip, and I came home with prototype sensors that we can now test,” Musgrave said. 

Building a Robot More Like a Fish

Musgrave's research focuses on bio-inspired soft robotic swimmers that mimic the way fish move through water. Roughly 18 inches long, the robotic fish uses artificial muscles and a flexible tail to reproduce the natural swimming motion of living fish.

The next step is making more of the robot itself flexible. While conventional underwater robots rely on rigid components for sensing, computing and energy storage, biological fish seamlessly integrate these functions throughout soft, adaptable bodies.

"Following biology's cues, my research aims to integrate functionality, including muscles, decision-making and energy storage, into flexible bodies to realize soft robotic swimmers that vastly outperform conventional vehicles," Musgrave explained.

Bartkowski's expertise in soft robotics and flexible electronics complements Musgrave's work on robotic swimmers, creating new opportunities to integrate sensors, batteries and other critical systems directly into the robot's flexible structure.

For Musgrave, the Global Fellows Program provided the opportunity to turn that complementary expertise into a new international partnership. "The program is enabling this new international collaboration with a global expert who has unique technical skills that complement my research on soft robotic swimmers." 

_{Global Fellow Patrick Musgrave with collaborator Piotr Bartkowski (center) and Bartkowski’s students
during Musgrave’s visit to Warsaw University of Technology in Poland.}

Building Connections at Home and Abroad

Beyond supporting international partnerships, the Global Fellows Program also helps faculty build connections across the University of Florida. During a Global Fellows workshop, Musgrave reconnected with UF's Thompson Earth Systems Institute (TESI), strengthening a relationship that has helped bring his robotic fish research into Florida elementary classrooms through educational outreach initiatives.

From fostering interdisciplinary connections on campus to launching new international research collaborations, the Global Fellows Program provides faculty with seed funding, professional development and networking opportunities that expand the reach and impact of their work.