1cooldude
April 2nd, 2009, 08:52 PM
Scientists have designed a robotic fish capable of detecting pollution in water.
http://i40.tinypic.com/347bk8w.jpg
Each pollution-detecting robotic fish costs £20,000
A shoal of the 'intelligent' fish will be released into the sea off Spain to track down potentially dangerous leaks from vessels.
The carp-shaped robots are around 1.5 metres long and have chemical sensors which can detect ship fuel and chemicals in water.
The life-like creatures have an eight-hour battery life and their own navigational abilities, meaning they can move without remote control.
Five of the robots are being released into the Bay of Biscay at Gijon at a cost of around £100,000.
The project is part of a three-year partnership between engineering consultancy firm BMT Group and Essex University.
Professor Huosheng Hu from the university said: "The hope is that this will prevent potentially hazardous discharges at sea, as the leak would undoubtedly get worse over time if not located."
Developers say they are simply building on a design created by hundreds of millions of years' worth of evolution.
If successful, they hope the fish could be used around the world to prevent the spread of pollution.
Source... (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Robot-Fish-Essex-University-Scientists-Develop-Robotic-Fish-Capable-Of-Detecting-Pollution-In-Water/Article/200903315245122?lpos=Technology_Second_Technology_ Article_Teaser_Region__1&lid=ARTICLE_15245122_Robot_Fish%3A_Essex_Universit y_Scientists_Develop_Robotic_Fish_Capable_Of_Detec ting_Pollution_In_Water)
http://i40.tinypic.com/347bk8w.jpg
Each pollution-detecting robotic fish costs £20,000
A shoal of the 'intelligent' fish will be released into the sea off Spain to track down potentially dangerous leaks from vessels.
The carp-shaped robots are around 1.5 metres long and have chemical sensors which can detect ship fuel and chemicals in water.
The life-like creatures have an eight-hour battery life and their own navigational abilities, meaning they can move without remote control.
Five of the robots are being released into the Bay of Biscay at Gijon at a cost of around £100,000.
The project is part of a three-year partnership between engineering consultancy firm BMT Group and Essex University.
Professor Huosheng Hu from the university said: "The hope is that this will prevent potentially hazardous discharges at sea, as the leak would undoubtedly get worse over time if not located."
Developers say they are simply building on a design created by hundreds of millions of years' worth of evolution.
If successful, they hope the fish could be used around the world to prevent the spread of pollution.
Source... (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Robot-Fish-Essex-University-Scientists-Develop-Robotic-Fish-Capable-Of-Detecting-Pollution-In-Water/Article/200903315245122?lpos=Technology_Second_Technology_ Article_Teaser_Region__1&lid=ARTICLE_15245122_Robot_Fish%3A_Essex_Universit y_Scientists_Develop_Robotic_Fish_Capable_Of_Detec ting_Pollution_In_Water)