University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau

Robin Milward Cooney | 2026 UoA 3MT Finalist

Duration: 3:06 388 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Robin Milward Cooney's presentation begins by addressing a common misconception about robotics and artificial intelligence, illustrated by his grandfather's belief that these fields were merely about tinkering with motors or involved artificial insemination. While acknowledging the utility of traditional motors and propellers for certain underwater tasks, such as surveying reefs and monitoring infrastructure, Cooney highlights their significant drawbacks in marine environments. These conventional propulsion methods are often noisy, disruptive to wildlife, and prone to tangling with invasive seaweeds, which ironically complicates the very monitoring efforts they are meant to support. Furthermore, devices that churn up sediment from the sea floor disturb natural habitats, contrasting sharply with the seamless, energy-efficient movement of marine animals like the sixgill shark, which converts its energy entirely into motion without creating disruption. To solve these problems, Cooney's research focuses on developing artificial muscles for underwater robotics, inspired by nature's own solutions of undulatory fins and muscles rather than mechanical propellers. These artificial muscles are electrostatic devices that operate on the same principle as static cling or a balloon sticking to a wall, utilizing high voltage to generate force. The device consists of two electrodes flanking a thin polymer pouch filled with an insulating fluid; when voltage is applied, charges accumulate and snap together under electrostatic forces, causing the pouch to contract in one direction while expanding in another. This mechanism mimics the contraction of natural muscle fibers, and by stacking these units, researchers can create larger, stronger actuators capable of generating complex movements. The core objective of Cooney's PhD work is to design and test these soft yet robust devices that can withstand underwater conditions and high voltages while maintaining the flexibility needed for fluid motion. His ultimate goal is to integrate these artificial muscles into robots that swim using a fishtail motion, allowing them to glide through water seamlessly without the noise or ecological damage associated with propellers. By shifting the focus from motors to biological-inspired actuators, this research aims to create a new generation of underwater explorers that coexist harmoniously with marine life. In conclusion, Cooney humorously suggests that perhaps his grandfather was right about one thing: instead of continuing to mess around with disruptive motors, the future of underwater robotics lies in making artificial muscles that emulate the elegance and efficiency of nature.

Read the full video transcript

When I told my grandfather I was going to university to study robotics and AI, he asked, "Robotics? Isn't that just messing around with motors?" Now, he probably wasn't the best person to discuss this with because he also thought AI meant artificial insemination. In my research, I collaborate with a company based in Lee, and they use motors a lot. They make underwater robots that survey reefs, track invasive seaweeds, and monitor infrastructure. For some applications, motors and propellers work really well. But for others, they're disruptive to the marine life. They're very noisy. Seaweed can get tangled in propellers, the very seaweed that we're trying to monitor. In this image, you can see an underwater robot lifting up sediment from the sea floor. That's a natural habitat. Next to it, you can see a sixgill shark. It glides through the water seamlessly. It uses all of its energy and converts it into motion rather than converting it into disruption. Nature doesn't like motors and propellers. Nature makes undulatory fins and muscles. That's why for my PhD, I make artificial muscles for underwater robotics. These are electrostatic devices. This is the same force that makes cling film cling or a balloon that you rubbed on your head stick to a wall. On the slide, you can see a cross-sectional image of an artificial muscle. We have two electrodes on either side of a thin polymer pouch. Inside, there's an insulating fluid, like an oil. When we apply a high voltage, charges accumulate on the electrodes and they snap together under the electrostatic forces. This pushes the fluid to one side and overall, the pouch contracts in one direction and expands in the other. Just like a muscle fiber. And like a muscle fiber, we can stack these together to make larger and stronger muscles. In my PhD, I design and test these devices. I make them soft enough so they can move, but robust enough so that they work underwater and survive the high voltages. My goal is to integrate these devices into robots that swim like the fishtail shark does, seamlessly through the water, without needing propellers. So, ultimately, maybe my grandfather was right about one thing at least. Maybe we should stop messing around with motors and instead, start making muscles. Thank you. >> [applause]