Cargo Towing by Artificial Swimmers

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the hydrodynamic interactions in active swimmer-cargo systems influence their orientation and efficiency in micro-towing applications.

Contribution

It introduces a model for cargo towing by active swimmers and analyzes how the cargo's orientation affects the swimmer's diffusivity and towing efficiency.

Findings

Cargo orientation significantly impacts diffusivity.

Hydrodynamic interactions determine towing efficiency.

Optimal configurations enhance micro-towing performance.

Abstract

An active swimmer can tow a passive cargo by binding it to form a self-propelling dimer. The orientation of the cargo relative to the axis of the active dimer's head is determined by the hydrodynamic interactions associated with the propulsion mechanism of the latter. We show how the tower-cargo angular configuration greatly influences the dimer's diffusivity and, therefore, the efficiency of the active swimmer as a micro-towing motor.