December 17, 2012

Blind Fish Inspires AUV Sensory System

Ben Coxworth, Gizmag


AP Photo

Ever wonder how fish can find their way around so easily in murky water? Well, most of them use something called their lateral line – a row of hair cells down either side of their body that detect changes in water pressure caused by movement, or by water flowing around objects. Now, scientists from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and MIT have copied the lateral lines of the blind cave fish, in a man-made system designed to allow autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to navigate more accurately and efficiently.

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TAGGED: fish, lateral lines, pressure, autonomous underwater vehicle, biomimetics

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