Friday, September 28, 2012

Robo-Fish to search for contraband cargo for Homeland Security

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security may soon be using robot fish to search for weapons, illegal drugs and other smuggled goods hidden in the hulls of ships calling at our ports.

BIOSwimmer robofish are modeled after the tuna fish for its ability to negotiate tight spaces and its acute muscular control. Boston Engineering Corp. is developing the technology for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate.

The control and agility of the robo-fish would be useful in searching a ship's hull for hidden contraband. BIOSwimmer is controlled by a laptop computer and connected by a tether that sends the data back to the operator.

It's battery powered and although it can operate independently, without a tether "sending data up through the water column is somewhat challenging," according to David Taylor, program manager of Boston Engineering Corp.'s Advanced Systems Group, to NBC. For operation without a physical link, the robotic fish have to return to the surface periodically for the data to be downloaded.

"It's all about distilling the science," Taylor told Phys.org. "It's called 'biomimetics.' We're using nature as a basis for design and engineering a system that works exceedingly well. Tuna have had millions of years to develop their ability to move in the water with astounding efficiency. Hopefully we won't take that long."

For more of the Government Technology story: govtech.com

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