Robotics Technology Center

New Sensing For Autonomous Robot Modeled On Fish

The underwater robot “Snookie” is modeled on the blind Mexican cave fish Astyanax. Developed by the Technische Universität München under CoTeSys (Cognition for Technical Systems) excellence cluster in Munich, it can orient itself in murky waters with an artificial sensory organ inspired by the so-called lateral-line system which can be found in fish and some amphibians. With this sensory organ, which extends along the both sides of the body, they are able to perceive minute variations in pressure and current flow. In the future, the researchers expect such capabilities to enable underwater robots to work autonomously in operations ranging from deep sea exploration to inspection of sewer pipes.

Unlike humans, conventional robots are tough. Hostile environments, toxic and corrosive gases, low light levels, moisture, dirt and disease mean nothing to them. However, these robots – the ones typically in use today – can only do their job provided that they are precisely programmed to take each step. Rather than being rigidly programmed, autonomous robots on the other hand rely on their own sensory perceptions. Biophysicist Prof. Leo van Hemmen of the Technische Universität München (TUM) has high hopes that the animal kingdom will provide the means to allow robots to perceive their environment.

Click here to read more about Snookie.