Biomimetic Flagellated Swimmer Design and Fabrication: A Scaled Approach

This study presents a bioinspired approach to modeling, scaling, and fabricating a helical flagellated swimmer, mimicking the locomotion of bacteria in low Reynolds number environments. The project integrates theoretical analysis using Buckingham Pi theorem, MATLAB simulations, and physical prototyping via 3D printing. A scaled macroscopic swimmer was designed with a target Reynolds number below 0.1 and tested in both water and detergent-based viscous media. Experimental results were compared with theoretical predictions, and velocity-angular velocity relations were derived. This work demonstrates a hands-on methodology bridging microscale fluid dynamics with accessible macroscopic experiments, serving as both a research and teaching model.