Robert Katzschmann et al. (Photo: Joseph
DelPreto), MIT CSAIL
Human presence affects animal behaviour research; studies in animals such as fish are influenced by human proximity as it often creates feelings of fear or curiosity in the subjects. Through the creation of SoFi, a name short for soft robotic fish, MIT has developed the robotic solution required for the observation of natural marine life.
SoFi is
remarkably similar in size and behaviour to the live fish it follows. As a result, it is able to blend in and create minimal
disruptions in marine observation at a close range. Moreover, The MIT team
(consisting of Robert K. Katzschmann, Joseph DelPreto, Robert MacCurdy, and
Professor Daniela Rus) has ensured SoFi is self-contained and functional as a
research tool.
As most
divers typically spend less than an hour underwater, a diver is able to control
Sofi through ultrasonic communication for up to 40 minutes. The maximum speed
of 21.7 centimeters per second is achieved by alternating propulsions in the
tail as it is pumped oil. Due to the dive planes and displacement buoyancy
control system, dives have reached over 18 meters deep.
Sofi was
tested for 240 minutes over 6 dives in the coral reef environments found in
Fiji. Although more testing will be held to determine any impact, immediate
observations conclude that the robotic fish did not appear to disturb the
marine life. With further understanding of this new technology, researchers
hope to implement schools of Sofis to gain more insight on larger underwater
ecosystems.
Read
more about this fascinating discovery at:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/mit-soft-robotic-fish-explores-reefs-in-fiji
Watch
SoFi in action at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy5ZETdaC9k
Read the
study at: http://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/3/16/eaar3449
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