Robot fish

According to these reports, approximately 40 different types of robot fish have been built, with 30 designs having only the capability to flip and drift in water.

For example, designers attempt to create robots with flexible bodies (like real fish) that can exhibit undulatory motion.

Some studies show this kind of tail shape increases swimming speeds and creates a high-efficiency robot fish.

Living fish have powerful muscles that can generate lateral movements for locomotion while the head remains in a relatively motionless state.

Realistic Propulsion Systems can help improve autonomous maneuvering and exhibit a higher level of locomotion performance.

[9] The shapes and sizes of fins vary drastically in living fish, but they all help to accomplish a high level of propulsion through the water.

[12] Achieving a consistent response is a challenge in animal behavioral studies when live stimuli are used as independent variables.

To overcome this challenge, robots can be used as consistent stimuli for testing hypotheses while avoiding large animal training and use.

Moreover, with various field deployments and a greater degree of independence, robots hold the promise of assisting behavioral studies in the wild.

The simplest ones consist of a soft body (MJ), motor (tail) and head (basic electric control element).

They use a battery to provide energy for the motor to produce movement and use the remote control systems to achieve the power of steering.

[15][16] Besides their vast potentials for research, robotic fish also show many opportunities to engage students and the general public.

Bio-inspired robots are valuable and effective, and can attract students to various areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

Scientists and other researchers have presented various kinds of robotic fish at many outreach programs, including the first and second USA Science and Engineering Festivals, in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

At these events, visitors were given the opportunity not only to see the robotic fish in action, but also interacted with the lab members to understand the technology and its applications.