Seal‑inspired whisker sensors

A University of Groningen study shows harbor seals rhythmically twitch whiskers to trade off hydrodynamic sensitivity against muscle energy use; researchers reproduced this with soft actuators and built a 60‑whisker bionic muzzle that rhythmically changes angle and improves detection in flow. The experimental result included a 17% forward angle at 0.5 m/s (typical seal speed) that increased vibration sensitivity while costing energy to hold. — Biomimetic whisker arrays could reshape low‑power underwater sensing for remotely operated vehicles, deep‑sea science, and environmental monitoring, altering who can do ocean observation and how cheaply it can be deployed.