One of the most bizarre scientific experiments ever conducted, goldfish were trained to drive a robot tank around a room.
Israel scientists have created an “fish-operated vehicle” consisting of water filled tanks, cameras and computers on top.
Tests showed that the car’s onboard camera was able to locate the fish and trigger the motors in order to drive the vehicle in the desired direction.
Six goldfish successfully learned to use this bizarre device. They were able to navigate the room to get to a reward food treat.
Researchers found that fishes can adapt their navigation skills to “a totally different terrestrial environment”.
One of the most bizarre scientific experiments ever conducted, goldfish were trained to drive a robot tank (pictured).
Israel scientists have created an “fish-operated vehicle” consisting of water filled tanks, cameras and computers on top.
A team of scientists from Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba in Israel conducted the experiments. The details are available in the journal Behavioural Neuro Research.
In their paper, the authors wrote that goldfish were taught to drive a fish-operated vessel (FOV) – a vehicle on wheels designed to react to movements and the orientation of the fish in its tank.
The FOV was directed towards the target by the fish, who were then able to see through the tank’s walls.
‘[Goldfish]We were able, without difficulty, to drive the vehicle in the unfamiliar environment and get to our target, regardless of where we started from.
The researchers had wanted to take one species from its own environment and challenge it to perform behavioural tasks in a completely different environment.
In their experiments they used six goldfish, which were then placed into the car’s water tank at the centre of the arena.
For the purpose of the fish, the arena was equipped with coloured corrugated panels that could be placed along the walls.
This graphic is from the research papers and shows the apparatus used for the experiments. Researchers wanted to challenge one species to do behavioural tasks in an entirely different environment. The experiment area marked “C” is a bird’s-eye view.
Each time the fish reached its target (defined as when the vehicle touches the corrugated boards), a food pellet was placed in the tank.
Covering the tank with a cloth was done to ‘prevent any visual feedback from the fish’. The FOV was returned manually to the original starting point for the next trial.
Initially, six of the six fish in the experiment drove at random. However, three sessions per week were held every two days.
After time, the fish were able to drive the vehicle to any location in the terrestrial environment.
The vehicle would move in the opposite direction if the fish were located close to a wall or water tank. The vehicle would not move if it was facing inward.
Israeli scientists created a fish-operated vehicle consisting of a tank filled with water, a camera, and a computer mounted on top of a pair of wheels.
Researchers have also addressed the problem of vehicle coming too close to walls or other obstacles in the terrestrial environment.
According to measurements taken from Lidar sensors on board, the computer could stop any movement and avoid colliding if it came within 20 cm (7.8 in) of an obstacle.
LiDAR (light detector and ranging), is a technology for remote sensing that uses lasers to measure distance. The light is then reflected back and analysed.
The researchers claimed that they have demonstrated fish’s ability to overcome environmental manipulation despite the fact that the results were random.
The findings indicate that if they were able to adapt to living without water they might be able to find food for survival.
According to the authors, “It’s obvious that fish do not have the natural ability to travel in terrestrial environments.”
These behavioural results indicate a degree of universality in navigation strategies and space representation.