Bio-Inspired Microswimmers: Design, Control & Morphing Structures (TRA540)

Dive into the future of underwater robotics by designing, building, and operating your own bio-inspired microswimmer. In this interdisciplinary course, you will merge fluid-structure interaction (FSI) coupling fluid and structural dynamics, morphing materials, and Artificial Intelligence (Deep Reinforcement Learning) control to create a palm-sized Flapping Soft-Fin Microswimmer (FSFM) capable of agile movement in aquatic environments.

Course code: TRA540 

Number of credits: 7.5 credits

Education level: master education

Study periods: 1 & 2 

Teaching language: English

Targeted students: Chalmers students are welcome

Teachers: Hua-Dong Yao (Examiner), Shivesh Kumar, Arion Pons, Ida-Maja Hassellöv

Prerequisites

The course is open to students with a background in:

• Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Theory, or Applied Physics.
• Recommended skills: Basic proficiency in CAD (e.g., SolidWorks/Fusion 360) and programming (Python or MATLAB).

Tracks’ link: click here

Course brochure: click here

General information

The course is offered within the Tracks framework and is organised around a shared prototype platform. Students from different engineering backgrounds collaborate in cross-functional teams, each responsible for defined subsystems of the microswimmer (propulsion, control, sensing, materials, integration, testing).

The course follows a “Mission Pathway.” You will work in teacher-assigned, multidisciplinary teams using a Role + Shadow-Role model—allowing you to contribute deep expertise in your home discipline while gaining breadth in another.

Weekly Routine

• Lectures: One 2-hour session per week covering theoretical foundations and guest lectures.
• Group Dynamics: Weekly internal discussions and sync-meetings with the teaching team.
• Monthly Reviews: Cross-group “Project Review Meetings” to exchange inputs, outputs, and resolve technical interfaces.

The course combines

• Design and reduced-order engineering analysis
• Entry-level FSI simulations
• Embedded control implementation (PID and ML-assisted approaches)
• Laboratory prototyping and water tank experiments
• System integration workshops

How to apply?

Apply to all Tracks courses at universityadmissions.se / antagning.se. Search for the course by using the course code TRA540. Read more on how to apply.

Do you have more questions?

If yes, please contact Hua-Dong Yao (Email: huadong.yao@chalmers.se; Phone: +46 73 773 9337)