In BEAM robotics

BEAM robotics

The word "beam" in BEAM robotics is an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics. This is a term that refers to a style of robotics...

, a swimmer is a robot

Robot

A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...

 that functions on or in a liquid environment. These are sometimes referred to as aquabots or aquavores (the latter being a misnomer

Misnomer

A misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue. Such incorrect terms sometimes derive their names because of the form, action, or origin of the subject becoming named popularly or widely referenced—long before their true natures were known.- Sources of misnomers...

, as they are not "water eaters"). Swimmers include various designs, but usually lie within a device class that can be delineated as a watercraft

Watercraft

A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...

, usually a boat but includes any vehicle designed to move across (or through) water.

Genera

• Boatbots : Self-propelled on the surface of a liquid; construction akin to surface watercrafts.
• Subbots : Self-propelled under the surface of a liquid; construction akin to submarine
  Submarine
  A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
  
  s.

External articles

• Northeastern University, Biomimetic Underwater Robot Program (BURP)
• "Robot fish to resurrect fossils" Sci/Tech, BBC, February 25, 1999.
• "Robofish splash down in Tokyo". BBC, 16 March, 2000.

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