Developed by researchers at MIT, SoFi is a soft-bodied robot that glides silently through the water with a smooth, undulating motion designed to mimic the movements of real fish.
It is the first robotic fish to contend with the currents and pressures of an actual ocean setting for an extended period of time.
In a study published Wednesday in Science Robotics, the authors describe how SoFi can nimbly navigate a coral reef off Fiji in three dimensions, swimming up, down, left, right and forward, all at the behest of a diver armed with what looks like a Nintendo controller.
The anatomy of the soft robotic fish SoFi, and the remote control for diver use. (Katzschmann et al. / Science Robotics)
The authors also report that the robot can handle water depths of about 60 feet, and appears to swim alongside real fish without spooking them.
It is the first robotic fish to contend with the currents and pressures of an actual ocean setting for an extended period of time.
In a study published Wednesday in Science Robotics, the authors describe how SoFi can nimbly navigate a coral reef off Fiji in three dimensions, swimming up, down, left, right and forward, all at the behest of a diver armed with what looks like a Nintendo controller.
SoFi in action, being controlled remotely by a diver using an acoustic communication modem. (Katzschmann et al. / Science Robotics)
The authors also report that the robot can handle water depths of about 60 feet, and appears to swim alongside real fish without spooking them.
“For us, this fish is magical,” said Daniela Rus, director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, who led the work. “We imagine someday it might help us uncover more mysteries from the amazing underwater world that we know so little about.”
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Credits : MIT || LA times
