Researchers develop robotic fish

A fish that swims, flaps its fins, and that which moves in a school of fish. It can swim backward, forward or turn any way it wants. Well, it’s not exactly a fish created by mother nature but by scientists at the University of Washington, Seattle. These robotic fish weigh 3 kilograms each and measure about 20 inches. The tail helps with propulsion and the two pectoral fins help the fish to swim. The fish would have an onboard computer, depth sensor, a compass and a radio receiver. If you are dreaming of having an aquarium filled with these robotic fish, you are again wrong. The researchers have a different purpose for these. These fish would provide information from the sea would help them track marine pollutants and wildlife such as the whales. Oceanographers and the military have been really keen about laying their hands on these robotic fish for a long time. Coordinating robots might prove to be difficult though, as radio waves do not travel easily underwater. Scientists can now only test them in aquariums in lab conditions but they hope to conduct deep sea trials soon. Watch the video after the jump.

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Via: Newscientist