Robotic fish project is recognised at Science Museum, London
24-Jun-2010
Visitors to the Science Museum in London will be given a rare opportunity to see the latest weapon in the fight against water pollution - a fully automated robotic fish which has been developed by EU scientists. BMT Group, the international design, engineering and risk management consultancy is leading the project and will deliver the artificial intelligence of the fish.
Luke Speller, Senior Research Scientist at BMT Group Ltd, commented: "Currently, monitoring pollution in the sea is cumbersome. You have to send divers down to collect water samples, which we then test in a lab. This can take days and needs staff and expensive equipment. Our robotic fish will constantly test for pollution to give instant results without delay."
Housed at the Science Museum's new Antenna science news gallery, which opens this Saturday, 26th June, the robotic fish will soon be undergoing sea trials to test their ability in monitoring pollution. This three-year research project, named SHOAL, is being funded by the European Commission and is being developed to provide a new solution to detecting pollution.
Luke Speller continued: "The robots are also intelligent. Each one knows what's going on around it and is able to react to its environment - it can sense and avoid obstacles and stay within reach of other robots in the SHOAL."
The fish which cost approximately £20,000 to make are being built by Professor Huosheng Hu and his robotics team at the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex.
Professor Hu commented: "The robotic fish have been designed to mimic the natural movements of real fish. By copying the way in which fish move, we have produced a highly efficient robot that can manoeuvre easily through the water. The tails mimic the fish's oscillating (side-to-side) movement, which is more effective than using a propeller. We want these robots to be able to swim for as long as possible before their batteries need recharging, so efficiency is vital."
Each fish will have tiny chemical sensors to detect a range of pollutants and these are being developed by the Tyndall National Institute, based in Ireland.
Luke Speller said: "We are extremely excited that the Science Museum has recognised SHOAL as a truly unique and innovative project and visitors with an interest in advanced technologies will have the chance to engage and be inspired by the robotic fish display."
Visit the Science Museum website to find out more about the robotic fish and to read an interview with Luke Speller:
http://antenna.sciencemuseum.org.uk/environment-now/can-robo-fish-save-our-seas/
Or why not visit the museum for FREE. For opening times go to www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
