The Crabster CR200 is an underwater walking robot inspired by crabs and lobsters, designed for precise seabed inspection and manipulation. It maintains stability and position on the seafloor, even in strong currents, by adjusting its posture through six legs, each with four degrees of freedom. The key advantage of the CR200 lies in its ability to resist drifting in strong currents by adapting its posture to maintain its position on the seafloor. However, information is still lacking on which specific posture generates the maximum downforce to ensure optimal stability in the presence of currents and the seabed. This study aims to determine the fluid forces acting on the CR200 in various postures using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and identify the posture that generates the maximum downforce. The posture is defined by two parameters: angle of attack and seafloor clearance, represented by the combination of the robot’s pitch angle and distance to the seabed. By varying these parameters, we identified the posture that produces the greatest downforce. Through a series of analyses, we identified two main fluid dynamic principles affecting the downforce on a robot close to the seabed. First, an optimal pitch angle exists that generates the maximum downward lift on the robot’s body. Secondly, there is an ideal distance from the seabed that produces maximum suction on the bottom surface, thereby creating a strong Venturi effect. Based on these principles, we determined the optimal robot posture to achieve maximum downforce in strong current conditions. The optimal underwater robot posture identified in this study could be applied to similar robots operating on the seafloor. Furthermore, the methodology adopted in this study for determining the optimal posture can serve as a reference for establishing operational postures for similar underwater robots.

This paper introduces a simulation-based determination method for hydrodynamic derivatives and 6DOF (degrees-offreedom) motion analysis for an underwater vehicle. Hydrodynamic derivatives were derived from second-order modulus expansion and composed of the added mass, and linear and nonlinear damping coefficients. The added mass coefficients were analytically obtained using the potential theory. All of the linear and nonlinear damping coefficients were determined using CFD simulation, which were performed for various cases based on the actual operating condition. Then, the linear and nonlinear damping coefficients were determined by fitting the CFD results, which referred to 6DOF forces and moments acting on an underwater vehicle, with the least square method. To demonstrate the applicability of the current study, 6DOF simulations for three different scenarios (L-, U-, and S-turn) were carried out, and the results were validated on the basis of physical plausibility.