Abstract: A novel type of bionic underwater hybrid propulsion mode was proposed. By the means of the coordination control of the multi-fins, a propulsion mode combines the undulation propulsion of fish and the jet propulsion of jellyfish was developed, and was capable of achieving a serial of motions: undulating, jetting, turning, submerging, emerging and braking. The rigid and flexible water stabilizer kinematics model was established and the numerical simulation was performed for undulation and jet propulsion mode of the rigid and flexible water stabilizer by using a CFD method. The simulation results show that the dynamic characteristics and swimming performance of the flexible water stabilizer is better than the rigid water stabilizer. It provides the foundation for further research on the multi-mode propulsion theory.

Key words: multi-fins, rigid motion, flexible motion, undulation propulsion, jet propulsion