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Finally ... RoboShark!

Posted by timothy on from the sans-frickin'-lasers dept.

Noryungi writes "Cousteau's grandson has built a robotic replica of a great white shark to better observe these animals in their natural environment. The robot-slash-submarine is able to mingle with the great white, and not draw their attention, thanks to a closed-circuit pneumatic propulsion system and cleverly disguised cameras. Do not miss the nice pictures next to the Wired article. Let the Dr Evil joke begin!"

4 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Tintin jokes by mollyhackit · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think Tintin jokes would be more worthwhile. Red Rackham's Treasure here we come!

  2. I Think I Hear Spielberg Swearing by DumbSwede · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Spielberg could have saved himself a lot of money filming "Jaws" if this thing had existed then and been at all realistic. I'll bet Grade B movie producers are scrambling over themselves to offer to rent this thing. Of course CGI has made this kind of actual model filming largely unneeded, but probably for a few more years people might like a physically based special effect if the price is right.

    Of course Cousteau (Jacques's son Fabian) is himself using the beast for filming -- so not so pure research after all.

    --
    Letter To Iran
  3. What about electricity... by rips123 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    AFAIK sharks (like sting rays) are extremely sensitive to electric fields. They are so sensitive in fact that there were some shark repellant devices a few years back that basically just periodically zapped the water at a voltage level that wasn't noticed by people but scared off sharks. How then, can this mechanical device with electronic cameras in it fool a shark into acting naturally when its giving off a strange electric field signature?

  4. Why isn't it an ROV? by FridayBob · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seems to me they could do a lot better by removing the the guy inside. After all, he can only see out with the aid of some cameras and monitors anyway. Perhaps they'd have to work on improving their wireless communications, but I don't think that would be a show stopper. A little AI would also help.