Robot fish to hunt down pollution

RobT20 · 03-20-2009, 10:41 PM

Robot fish to hunt down pollution
By Fiona Harvey in London

Published: March 19 2009 19:21 | Last updated: March 19 2009 19:21

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4166d8d4-14b...nclick_check=1

Something fishy is going on in northern Spain. The waters of the port of Gijon are shortly to be invaded – by robots.

Scientists are building a shoal of robot fish to be let loose in the port to check on the quality of the water. Modelled on carp and costing about £20,000 ($29,000) each to make, the fish are to be lifelike in appearance and swimming behaviour so they will not alarm their fellow marine inhabitants.

spinnerholic · 03-21-2009, 11:55 AM

What about the poor fisherman who happens to snag one and hauls it into his boat. He will think not only did ET come back, but is helping invade our oceans.

Can you imagine the look on the fisherman's face???

RobT20 · 03-21-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinnerholic

What about the poor fisherman who happens to snag one and hauls it into his boat. He will think not only did ET come back, but is helping invade our oceans.

Can you imagine the look on the fisherman's face???

However, at $29,000 each, the scientists might gladly pay a return fee of say maybe $5,000.

Could turn into a business opportunity for some entrepreneurs to specifically target these fish.

The law of unintended consequences ? I wonder if they've thought this through.