Robot fish developed by British scientists will be released into the sea off northern Spain next year in an effort to detect pollution. If the yearlong trial in the northern Spanish port of Gijon goes well, the scientists hope that the fish will be used in rivers, lakes, and seas across the globe.
From Reuters:
The carp-shaped robots, costing 20,000 pounds ($29,000) apiece, mimic the movement of real fish and are equipped with chemical sensors to sniff out potentially hazardous pollutants, such as leaks from vessels or underwater pipelines.
They will transmit the information back to shore using Wi-Fi technology.
Unlike earlier robotic fish, which needed remote controls, they will be able to navigate independently without any human interaction.
They’re creepy enough until you realize that they’re FIVE FEET LONG. Holy crap, can you imagine snorkeling and running into one of these things? They’re the size of freaking seals and their lifeless black eyes are kind of disturbing.
Weirdness factor aside, this is an awesome idea. And there’s a good reason why they didn’t simply create mini submarines instead of developing these bionic fish: they felt that building a design based on millions of years’ worth of evolution, which was incredibly energy efficient, was the best approach. Taking cues from nature is definitely smart design!
Link [Reuters]
