Electric fields could give subs 'fish-like' sense - tech - 04 May 2007 - New Scientist Tech

Electric fields could give subs 'fish-like' sense - tech - 04 May 2007 - New Scientist Tech:

"Robotic and un-crewed submersibles could operate more effectively by mimicking the way some fish probe their surroundings with electric fields, say researchers.

Many marine and freshwater fish can sense electric fields, but some also generate their own weak fields over short ranges to help navigate, identify objects, and even communicate with other fish.

Malcolm MacIver and colleagues at Northwestern University in Chicago, US, studying the biomechanics of these 'weakly electric fish', have now come up with an artificial electric-field sensing system. They say it could ultimately give robot submersibles the same additional sensory capabilities.

'Currently, no vehicle is manoeuvrable enough to do work in tight quarters, such as coral reef monitoring, underwater structural inspection, or searching a submerged vessel,' MacIver told New Scientist. 'To do so requires not only a high amount of agility, but also being able to sense in all directions, so that you do not collide with nearby obstacles. Electro-location is perfect for this.'"