They found the key to jellyfish speed and could use them in vehicles

Scientists at the University of South Florida (USF) discovered that the jellyfish’s great speed is due to a mechanism that works as if they were propelling with the help of the soil and that can eventually be used in the automotive industry.

“The fact that these simple animals have figured out how to achieve a ‘ground effect’ type boost in open water, away from any solid surface, has the potential to open up a range of new possibilities for engineering vehicles to take advantage of this phenomenon, “said Brad Gemmell, in charge of the discovery.

The jellyfish, known as “the most efficient swimmer in the world”, produce two vortex rings, which are donut-shaped fluid bodies underneath their translucent bodies, which rotate in opposite directions.

These rings appear when the jellyfish squeeze and reopen throughout each swim cycle, providing a “ground effect” force as if they were pushed by the seabedexplained Gemmell, associate professor of integrative biology.

He explained that the “ground effect” is more widely understood on airport runways. “During takeoff, the air is squeezed between the plane and the ground, creating pressure and force that increases performance,” he explained.

Various research groups use jellyfish as a model to develop underwater vehicles that can be equipped with sensors that monitor the ocean without interruption.