back to article MIT boffins build rubber robot, invade privacy of unsuspecting sealife

Researchers at MIT have developed a robotic fish that should allow scientists to spy on intimate fishy moments normally unseen by human eyes. Fish, it has to be said, aren’t keen on humans and tend to hide when divers blunder too close with bulky underwater camera gear. To keep things discreet, scientists have developed a …

  1. Korev Silver badge
    Coat

    Management

    Do they manage the robot using a conSole?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Management

      No but it is built to scales.

  2. Tigra 07
    Pint

    How long until one of these goes missing and ends up battered in a chip shop frier?

    1. Mark 85

      I would think it more likely to be in a bigger fishes stomach... without a side order of chips.

  3. Voland's right hand Silver badge

    likely give target fish pause for thought, boffins used an acoustic modem,

    Most fish hear far into the ultrasound and far into the infrasound. Natural adaptation to deal with clicky predators like dolphins as well as notice predators from afar.

    The majority of fish are dumb as a brick. They could not care less about a cable dangling out of another fish. The only advantage this gives is improved mobility. It definitely has issues as far as "spooking" the fish is concerned though.

  4. Christoph

    "SoFi (or RoboFish as The Register feels it should be called)"

    You mean you didn't suggest Fishy McFishface?

    1. Blockchain commentard

      Robbie McSoftie - it's both a robot and soft !!!!!

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Should call it a catfish. Pretty cool, it's a shame there isn't more fisheye lens footage.

  6. Evil Auditor Silver badge

    I want RoboShark. I want laser on RoboShark.

    (sorry) This SoFi's pretty cool though

    1. Tigra 07
      Thumb Up

      RE: Evil

      RoboSharks with fricking lasers on their heads?

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Go

    Evolution starts here

    This weak little robot fish had better hope nothing large and hungry comes along. I really doubt it could outrun any marine predator in its size range. Perhaps there should be some form of defense for the poor thing?

    Ink would be ideal; Cheap, not too bulky, easily deployed, looks way cool, and has served the Octopi well for ages.

  8. Teiwaz

    A Rubber Robot?

    What other direction is this heading?

  9. Dr Scrum Master
    Headmaster

    Silicon Rubber Tail

    Silicon rubber or silicone rubber?

  10. Neil Barnes Silver badge

    I suppose

    that fitting a fish-eye lens was really the only option...

    1. Francis Boyle Silver badge

      Well

      two fish-eye lenses might have been better.

  11. tiggity Silver badge

    The easy alternative is slap a camera on a wild fish

    They do it a lot in wildlife filming, temporarily attached to e.g. a whale (yes I know its a mammal, but a sea one)

    Not sure how "mini" the camera tech goes in terms of "minimum" size of fish that could be fitted with one (in terms of camera size & ability of fish to carry it)

    1. phuzz Silver badge
      Facepalm

      Then all you need to do is train the fish to film the things you're interested in. There must be plenty of haddocks out there who went to film school right? Plus these days it feels like every mackerel has it's own youtube channel.

  12. artificial bitterness

    Oil

    I'm deeply disappointed they used mineral oil rather than cod liver oil.

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