BactoBot: A Low-Cost, Bacteria-Inspired Soft Underwater Robot for Marine Exploration

Abstract: Traditional rigid underwater vehicles pose risks to delicate marine ecosystems. This paper presents BactoBot, a low-cost, soft underwater robot designed for safe and gentle marine exploration. Inspired by bacterial flagellar propulsion, BactoBot features 12 flexible, silicone-based arms arranged on a 3D-printed dodecahedral frame. The design provides inherent compliance, redundancy, and the potential for omnidirectional movement. The prototype was fabricated using accessible DIY methods, including food-grade silicone molding, 3D printing, and off-the-shelf microcontrollers. Waterproofing and buoyancy calibration protocols were developed, and the robot was successfully tested in a controlled water tank, demonstrating forward motion and turning. The results validate the feasibility of replicating complex biological locomotion at low cost. The project lays a foundation for environmentally conscious robotic tools, particularly for marine science in resource-constrained settings, and identifies pathways toward autonomous operation and field deployment.