Robot fish created as a guide into aquatic life

What better way to study the life beneath waters than to shape-shift as a fish? –This was the idea behind a robot fish created to give humans an inside perspective on the marine life.

Made from silicon rubber, the Soft Robotic Fish called the SoFi, was developed by a team of researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. The fish with its hydraulic-pump powered tail was supported by the US National Science Foundation to give researchers a live view into marine life.

The head of the fish has all the electronics stored inside that operate the mechanics and drive the fish through a remote control.

The fish is also said to assist in cleaning up the widespread pollution in the ocean.

“The robot fish swam at depths of more than 50 feet for up to 40 minutes at once, nimbly handling currents and taking high-resolution photos and videos using a fish-eye lens,” stated the team at MIT amid test dives of the SoFi in Fiji’s Rainbow Reef.