Ryomei Engineering (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), in cooperation with two other Hiroshima-area engineering companies, has developed a robot resembling a koi carp. The robot was demonstrated at a pond on the grounds of Hiroshima Machinery Works.
The robot is modeled after a Nishiki koi carp as a form of tribute to Hiroshima Castle (whose nickname Ri-jo means Koi Castle). The 80-cm (31-inch), 12-kg (26-pound) fish has a white body with bright red spots. Though the tail movement is very smooth and lifelike, the remote-controlled koi is capable of moves that a genuine koi is unable to perform, such as swimming in reverse and rotating in place.
The robot is Ryomei Engineering?s fifth in a line of fish robots that includes a sea bream, a prehistoric coelacanth, and a golden carp. New features added to the robotic koi include a CCD camera built into the head and sensors for analyzing water quality.
UPDATE: Check out the video at Riding Sun!
[Source: Kyodo News]
Calladus
I can't wait for someone to make a robotic Loch Ness Monster!
[]bebs
that would be cool but i hope they dont put in sharp teeth!
[]fisherwy
Vivid fish!
[]fisherwy
Haha, I make it! This post was cited on Boing Boing after I suggested it a link there! Congratulations!
[]Ben O
I'm sorry. I think it's really cool that robotics has advanced to this level, but this is definitely on the far side of the Uncanny Valley. Looking at it just creeps me out on a very visceral level.
[]Javanator
Great looking beasty. I wanna buy one for my pool. How much?
[]Matthew
Robocarp! Please tell me they named it "Murphy"...
[]Gaijin Biker
I'm waiting for the big showdown between Robocarp and COD-209.
[]Taro, in Tokyo
CHECK OUT THE ROBO-PIG PIX!
[]donniebnyc
But can you flush it?
[]jae
i have several koi in a tank in my house. The biggest is about 8 inches. I can tell you with much certainty, non-robotic koi can indeed swin backward. not for long periods of time, but they do it to position themselves for feeding and the maneuver within and around crowds.
[]loe
When can I move to Japan
[]chris
Mr. Sparkle: A joint venture of Matsumura Fishworks and Tamaribuchi Heavy Manufacturing Concern.
[]E. Rosenwasser
Robo-Koi VS Rodan!
Appearing at your local theatre THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!
[]Bebe
nene, te amo muito
[]Yonel Vitor
Hola mi nombre es Yonel Vitor
[]soy de Lima Perú. quiero hacerles una pregunta: ¿en qué fecha podrian vender el pez carpa?
abhinav
I am intrested in making robots and a cyborg intrests me a lot although its long before its possible.
[]etc
this fish looks gay as hell and the aint gonna make a lochness monster every1 now thats hella fack so is this fish if ur gonna get a fish get the real thing trust me
[]adss
wow thats pretty cool!
-adss
[]farid
hi
[]im farid 23 from persia ( IRAN )
i made mant robots i want come to usa and go ob study and work about robotics i want if you can be my halper
Good Luck
georgelrey
verry nice your robot..?
[]Troy
How Stupid And Useless.
[]p.kanagavalli
its very useful
[]gypsy jim frm the 1 the onli surrey
wow how much is it
[]ariel
OMG I want one but my friend wont buy it for me!! TT.TT It is soo cute and it would swim in my pool!! YAY!! I want one soo bad were can you get them!?!
[]timvampier
But....
Can you eat it.
[]:)
Ben
i think that tis is rediculouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
[]Ben
You Go Troy!!!!
[]ardiansyah
apa sih fungsinya robot ikan tersebut ,pemborosan aja kan duuit jadi habis.
[]sunny
I Wish I can get it. I love it so much...
[]nitro
Wow!
[]The one of new generation has come after "AIBO"!!
Indeed it has to be a carp in Hiroshima...
cave man
dame what stops that fish from planting a bomb on a ship would u suspeck a fish if u had to gard something
[]Thor's Son
That is wicked, i wish they'd make something you could buy and have fun with in the pool though, and something with AI so it would roam around without you having to control its movement. All in all i think this is amazing =D
[]Dave
cool but a hugee waste of money and time
[]Pauline Diego
...its great but for me it looks a little bit scary...
[]Matt
its tat
[]