The self propelled rope

If you pull a length of rope through water, you will notice that i makes resistance. A rope with minimum resistance, or one that even pulls itself, would be helpful in many rescue situations, at many scales.

Plan/Status/Ambitions

This is an initial call. Shallow research has not given indication that the envisioned technology exists. Any level of work furthering the field would be appreciated, e.g.:

• Research into existing projects, technology and products
• Ideation about possible solutions
• Research and development of technologies that would make the ida possible

Problem/Background

Pulling any length of rope through water at almost any scale presents the problem of resistance, e.g.:

• A rescuer swimming to help out with a rope – wether held in a hand, clenched between the teeth, or tied to the body – will notice that it is much harder than swimming unhindered
• Pulling a long rope with a small tender to a boat in shallow water in need of a tow can be demanding. If the rope is long enough and the tender boat small enough, it may even cause a capsize
• Retracting a long tow line without a without a winch can be very hard work. Better save your breath for actual rescue work!

Result/Solution

The field is wide open.

• If power is needed, it could be supplied externally, but better yet would be self generated power, e.g. through wave motion.
• The forward motion could be generated on the surface of the rope, or maybe through a snaking motion.
• If self propulsion ends up being too tall an order, a rope with minimized resistans might also be a valuable outcome

Inspiration/Research

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_muscle

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-swimming-Robo-Snake/

http://staff.tuhsd.k12.az.us/gfoster/standard/bfish2.htm