When the robotics research team at the University of Surrey held a public competition open to anyone with an idea for a robot biomimetic, he offered a great prize. The best prize for those who love ideas. Which? the promise to turn the winning design into a working prototype.
It was then that the student Eleanor Mackintosh jumped into the fray, sending her idea of creating a robot fish to reduce microplastics that pollute waterways. A triumph. Gillbert, this is the name of the aquatic robot, is now a 3D printed prototype. A sort of cybernetic salmon with gills that filter pastic as it swims.
Imagine a school of these “fish” cleaning up rivers and streams.
To each his own robot fish
I didn't tell you the best part: Gillbert is open source. Anyone who has a 3D printer and wants to print their robot fish for free can go to the contest website and download the plans to make it happen. Doctor Robert Siddall, professor at the University of Surrey and creator of the competition, already imagines the improvements that the team will make, and those that everyone can suggest.
The next step will be to make Gillbert faster by upgrading the tail and optimizing the fins.
And then the real big step: transforming the robotic fish into a remote-controlled or even autonomous device, perhaps larger in size. How about robot sharks cleaning up microplastics in the oceans?
This and more against microplastics
The problem of microplastics is now known to all, and Dr. Siddall knows how widespread it is. In the air, in placenta of mothers, in fruit and vegetables, even in our blood. Smart solutions like Gillbert can stimulate researchers to find micro and individual solutions to plastic pollution.
In conclusion, twenty seconds for some commentators who on social media will also show disdain for this invention. I would like to tell you that all of us should be very afraid of the robot fish invasion. During the day and at night, since they also light up in the dark. Not only will they clean up our waterways, they will also take our jobs away! As a concerned citizen, it is my duty to warn all of you about the impending robot uprising. So please be sure to stock up on canned goods and weapons and stay tuned for more information as this story develops. Watch out for the robot fish. I repeat: watch out for robot fish.
Thank you for your time.
