Terranaut II: Fish finally gets its ride pimped

Yes, we know you all weren't expecting this invention until about the year 3000 from a shifty scientist named Wernstrom, and yet here we are in -- hold on, let us check our watch -- 2006 and already the reverse wetsuit for fish has nearly been perfected. Now granted, Seth Weiner's Terranaut II rig doesn't allow its Blood Parrot fish occupant to run around like a madman on robotic legs -- in fact, the "pilot" is lucky to hit 1MPH in this wheeled contraption -- but imagine the freedom it must feel being able to navigate its once-stationary bowl throughout some of the world's finest art galleries. (Unlike us, we bet the little critter can even distinguish a Manet from a Monet). The rather simple vehicle uses a digital camera to track fishy's movements in the bowl, and propel itself in the corresponding direction -- although from the quick cuts on the sample video, it would seem that there's less forward momentum and more spinning around in circles. Still, it's nice to see someone giving these creatures a shot at mobility, and when all the radioactive waste we dump into their natural habitats eventually turns them into super-smart mutants, we hope they'll remember this small gesture before stuffing us into glass cages and feeding us processed members of our own species.

[Via digg]

[thoughtfix @ Sep 20th 2006 8:28PM]

Oh man. Wait until Klaus sees this!

(American Dad reference)

[Rob @ Sep 20th 2006 8:33PM]

interesting...maybe now they can work on ethanol and hydrogen powered ones to save gas money

[Tay Ween @ Sep 20th 2006 8:34PM]

The response looks terribly underdamped on that, but I guess any quick movements could cause a tragedy. Put a nice gyro-stablized platform on there and pump up the gain.

[Nathan @ Sep 20th 2006 8:34PM]

I smell a disaster...

Isn't the reason most people like fish is because they're quiet and reasonably crippled?

[Scott @ Sep 20th 2006 8:55PM]

Holy Crip He's a Crapple!

[Tom @ Sep 20th 2006 9:32PM]

Yeah, basically.

[Larry Bloom @ Sep 20th 2006 8:40PM]

interesting

[Nizam Rahman @ Sep 20th 2006 8:57PM]

Reminds me of Gyo, from Junji Ito. That was a scary Manga.

I for one, welcome our bulbous-eyed overlords.

[Matt @ Sep 20th 2006 9:00PM]

Just wait til it sprouts a third eye from all the toxic waste. We'll be done for then!

P.S Can't believe thais hasn't been said already but....
I, for one, welcome our hybrid, robofish overlords.

[Matt @ Sep 20th 2006 9:01PM]

@Nizam: Dang. You beat me to it.

[Volker @ Sep 20th 2006 9:11PM]

If you look close you can see him puking his guts out !

[Foof @ Sep 20th 2006 9:18PM]

For use only on the first floor.

[Dp462090 @ Sep 20th 2006 9:36PM]

"I, for one, welcome our hybrid, robofish overlords."

They may take our lives, but they'll never take ... OUR FREEDOM!

[Todd Johnson @ Sep 20th 2006 9:51PM]

Wernstrom!

[Tito @ Sep 20th 2006 10:06PM]

Exactly. Only Wernstrom's version was much much cooler. At least the fish could fetch the stick.

[SteveZ @ Sep 20th 2006 10:13PM]

Because I, for one, welcome our new, mobile, swimming in circles, fishbowl dwelling, Segway mounted, digital camera manipulating, and 10-second memory span overlords.

[Gary @ Sep 20th 2006 10:55PM]

wow, this is interesting!

[Andrew @ Sep 20th 2006 11:13PM]

is it just me or are the article posts on Engadget getting too long and trying too hard to be funny?

They used to be about the gadgets, and every now and again there would be a sly joke.

Now every second sentence is an attempt at a joke and the information in the post gets lost.

Thank god for the pictures.

Maybe it is just me.

[Andir3.0 @ Sep 21st 2006 9:17AM]

Why do Blogs insist on linking to sites that have a link to the real story? Couldn't you provide a direct link to the source instead of linking to Digg that links to http://www.livescience.com/scienceoffiction/060919_fish_land.html ?

[Ken @ Sep 21st 2006 9:27AM]

What happens when the fish dies and floats belly up? Will the Terranaut II flip over and do it's impression of a Ford Explorer with Goodyear tires?

*now where's my USB artifishial fish?*

[NoahJ @ Sep 21st 2006 9:58PM]

WWWWWWWWWWORNSTROM!

[dc @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:36PM]

damn, that's the sharpest and best quality youtube vid footage I've ever seen. I wonder how they compressed it.