James Tangorra, MEM Assistant Professor, along with a research team comprised of Harvard biologist, Professor George Lauder, and the University of Chicago neurobiologist Professor Melina Hale have been awarded a grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Entitled, “The Neuromechanics of Fish Pectoral Fin Sensory and Motor Control System as a Model from Controlling Agile, Autonomous Undersea Vehicles,” the team will embark upon an investigation of the sensorimotor systems that control highly deformable pectoral fins during swimming and maneuvers, and will create biorobotic models of the fin and the sensorimotor control system to propel and control unstable and highly maneuverable fish-based AUVs. The budget of the ONR award is $967,800 for 3 years and Drexel’s portion is $360k.