In an effort to clean the oceans of microplastics, Chinese scientists have developed robotic fish that will “eat” tiny particles of plastic. Chinese scientists from Sichuan University in southwest China have created a 1.3 cm (0.5 in) robot fish.
Wang Yuyan, one of the researchers who developed the robot, said the team aims to provide the robot with information to collect microplastics in deep water and analyze marine pollution in real time.
“We’ve developed such a lightweight little robot. It can be used in many ways, for example in biomedical or hazardous operations, such a small robot that can be moved to a part of your body to help you eliminate a disease.” be able to help.”
The robot fish is irradiated by a light, which causes it to flap its fins and move its body. According to Reuters, using light, scientists can control the fish to keep it from crashing into other fish or ships.
The researcher said that if one of the robot fish is eaten by another, it can be digested without harm because it is made of polyurethane, which is also biocompatible.
What can fish do?
Robotic fish will be able to absorb pollutants. It is also made in such a way that it can repair itself even if it is damaged. It can swim up to 2.76 body lengths per second, faster than most artificial soft robots.
“We’re working mostly on collection (of microplastics). It’s like a sampling robot and can be used over and over again,” she said.
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