SKIRMISHER

Folks at the University of Washington have been working on underwater robots that no longer require control from humans — the Robofish can communicate with one another underwater.

They could cooperatively track moving targets underwater, such as groups of whales or spreading plumes of pollution, or explore caves, go underneath ice-covered waters, or into) dangerous environments where surfacing might not be possible. Schools of robots would be able to work together to do things that one could not do alone, such as tracking large herds of animals or mapping expanses of pollution that can grow and change shape.

Kristi Morgansen drives a Robofish in the 10,000-gallon test tank in the basement of the Aerospace and Engineering Research Building

All seems so cool, as long as some real fish doesn’t turn the Robofishies into lunch or Orca doesn’t give them his gargantuan loving attention.

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