Underwater Vehicle Concept Inspired by Golf Balls

Underwater vehicles with dimples like golf balls could be more efficient and maneuverable, a new prototype developed at the University of Michigan has demonstrated.

These nimble vehicles could access typically hard-to-reach areas in the ocean while conducting surveillance, mapping new areas or collecting data on water conditions.

Golf ball dimples cut through pressure drag—the resistance force an object meets when moving through a fluid—propelling the ball 30% further than a smooth ball on average.

“A dynamically programmable outer skin on an underwater vehicle could drastically reduce drag while eliminating the need for protruding appendages like fins or rudders for maneuvering. By actively adjusting its surface texture, the vehicle could achieve precise maneuverability with enhanced efficiency and control,” said Anchal Sareen, U-M assistant professor and corresponding author of two studies published in Flow and The Physics of Fluids.

Sareen and colleagues formed the prototype by stretching a thin layer of latex over a hollow sphere dotted with holes, resembling a pickleball. A vacuum pump depressurizes the core, pulling the latex inwards to create precise dimples when switched on. Turning off the pump makes the sphere smooth again.

The smart morphable sphere can also generate lift, allowing for controlled movement. Often thought