Publications

Peer-reviewed conferences and journal articles from the SCALE Lab.

For a full list of publications, see Google Scholar. Bold denotes lab members.

2026
Tube feet dynamics drive adaptation in sea star locomotion
Deridoux, A., Heydari, S., Gorb, S., Kanso, E., Flamming, P., & Gabriele, S. (2026). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 123(3), e2509681123.
Paper
Deep dive into model-free reinforcement learning for underwater locomotion: theory and practice
Jiao, Y., Ling, F., Heydari, S., Heess, N., Merel, J., & Kanso, E. (2026). Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 21(2), 022001.
Paper
2025
Navigation of a three-link microswimmer via deep reinforcement learning
Lai, Y., Heydari, S., Pak, O. S., & Man, Y. (2025). Physical Review Fluids, 10(6), 064103.
Paper
2024
Mapping spatial patterns to energetic benefits in groups of flow-coupled swimmers
Heydari, S., Hang, H., & Kanso, E. (2024). eLife, 13, RP96129.
Paper
Flow sensing and feedback control for maintaining school cohesion in uncoordinated flapping swimmers
Hang, H., Heydari, S., & Kanso, E. (2024). American Control Conference (ACC), pp. 3960–3965.
Paper
Soft skeletons transmit force with variable gearing
Ellers, O., Ellers, K., Johnson, A., Po, T., Heydari, S., Kanso, E., & McHenry, M. (2024). Journal of Experimental Biology, 227(9), jeb246901.
Paper
2022
Active tail flexion in concert with passive hydrodynamic forces improves swimming speed and efficiency
Hang, H., Heydari, S., Costello, J., & Kanso, E. (2022). Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 932, A35.
Paper
2021
School cohesion, speed, and efficiency are modulated by the swimmers' flapping motion
Heydari, S. & Kanso, E. (2021). Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 922, A27.
Paper
Learning to swim in potential flow
Jiao, Y., Ling, F., Heydari, S., Merel, J., & Kanso, E. (2021). Physical Review Fluids, 6(5), 050505.
Paper
2020
Sea star inspired crawling and bouncing
Heydari, S., Johnson, A., Ellers, U., McHenry, M., & Kanso, E. (2020). Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 17(162), 20190700.
Paper