'Robofish' Schools the Rest

schliz writes "Biologists from the University of Leeds have built a computer-controlled replica of a three-spined stickleback fish to study how the behavior of individual fish might influence the movement of others. The so-called 'Robofish' was able to recruit single fish into a group, and cause fish in groups of up to ten to turn in the same direction as itself. The researchers claim that Robofish is the first robotic fish to 'interact convincingly' with a school of fish and convince the whole group to make a sharp turn."

Comments

Re:I can use my fingers

[JustOK]

try washing your hands first.

Re:Traditional fishing

[TheKidWho]

Gives a new meaning to crowd sourcing.

Obligatory

[morrison]

I, for one, welcome our new sushi overlords.

Re:Obligatory

[put_it_down]

Why? Are they coming over? I forgot to grab wasabi.

Re: damn dolphins

[MRe_nl]

So long and thanks for all the robot fish?

Big fish all gone ?

[ilotgov]

It is controlled by an electromagnet that is located beneath the tank and controlled, in turn, by TestPoint and Microsoft Excel software packages on a PC.
Microsoft is going after small fish now.

James Pond

[Robotron23]

James Pond has prior art on this - and his first appearance showed him extremely cod at fixing undersea oil-leaking holes.

Next step...

[Anonymous Coward]

Attaching lasers to the fish. It's the next best thing to attaching lasers to sharks.

Great timing

[Hatta]

We can release these into the gulf of mexico. Robots love oil.

Re:Traditional fishing

[mikael]

You can do the same thing on the London underground - get off at any platform at a busy time and walk to the platform in the opposite direction. At least 10 or more tourists will follow you and each other, thinking you are heading to the street (the WAY OUT signs don't always point somewhere meaningful). After you stop, they figure you weren't going where they want to go, and start following someone else.

Re:Traditional fishing

[Jurily]

Surely you mean phishing.