Researchers at the University of Essex in England are edifice a shoal of robotic fish to whiff away pollutants in and on the waters of the European seas. The boffins design to construct a armada of robocod at the price of about $30,000 each to stop interruption chemical and lubricant levels in h away the seaside of Northern Spain, specifically the township of Gij?n in Asturias.

A give of ?2.5 million ($3.6 million) desire recompense for the proposal (named SHOAL). The robots desire be made in the form of fish Large, nearly five foot fish) so as not to frighten the natives. The fish are also extremely e-fish-ent, capable to sprint for hours either unaccompanied or in teams, and when the batteries start to wither, the fish desire, like a Roomba, come to their charging stations.

It’s a embarrassment these aren’t being tested away a small more south in the Mediterranean. I think of our quite zealous Barcelona fisherman strength be capable to network single of these and carryture it to my neighborhood market-place. Which would, of path, be nearly as awe-inspiring as the crawling, clacking living lobsters and leaping Observe them leap shrimps.

?2.5 million to take apart harbor contamination [Essex University via the Reg]