RoboTerp (Diamondback terrapin), Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, USA

This video shows RoboTerp, a quadrupedal amphibious robot, in which the same legs that achieve locomotion on land using one gait, also provide propulsion in water by switching to a different gait. The central idea hinges on a passive compliance attached to the lower leg that enables it to behave like a valve during movement in water. The direction of this valve-like mechanism is aligned such that rhythmic oscillations of the legs generate a net thrust that propels the robot forward in water. By design, this oscillatory leg movement achieves splash-free swimming, and thereby overcomes the shortcomings of most previous wheel-leg based designs, in which rotational movement
causes water splashing that leads to significant turbulence in the robot surroundings.

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This video shows RoboTerp II, an extension to RoboTerp, a compliance assisted amphibious robot. While, the walking gaits are similar, RoboTerp II uses a better swimming design that takes inspiration from the Diamondback Terrapin. Its splash-free swimming and turtle-like shell allow this robotic creature to blend in and travel without disturbing wild life.

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This bi-inspired robot developed in the University of Maryland's Maryland Robotics Center mimics the walking and swimming gaits of a terrapin.

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