The Essex Robotic fish is a very realistic swimming fishbot. They are approximately fifty centimeters in length, 15 centimeters high and 12 centimeters wide.
The above video shows just how realistic the motion is. The robots are covered in light-reflective scales, as well as tiny sensors that provide information about the distance from obstacles.
I covered the fishbot carp in a previous story (Robofish Autonomous Fish-bot At London Acquarium); the robocarp seems like a good start on the Mitsubishi turbofish predicted by Michael Swanwick in his 2002 story Slow Life:
The Mitsubishi turbot wriggled, as if alive. With one fluid motion, it surged forward, plunged, and was gone.
Lizzie switched over to the fishcam.
(Read more about the Mitsubishi turbofish)
BTW, be sure to turn on your sound to get the euro-retro music track from the video.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/28/2006)
Mika The Robot-Boss
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...' - David C. Cooke, 1939.
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
'...tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.' - Harl Vincent, 1934.
Finger Sensors For Robot Hands
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
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