A team of engineering students from ETH Zurich has unveiled “Eve,” a robotic fish designed to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic ecosystems. This new aquatic device was named as the “sister” of Bellea robotic fish with Artificial Intelligence created by the same team just over a year ago.
This innovative tool, which mimics the appearance of a fish, is being tested in Lake Zurich with the aim of changing the way scientists study and monitor ocean biodiversity.
How does this new robotic fish work?
Eve is an example of advanced biomimetic robotics technology. With a soft structure and a silicone tail that moves naturally, this autonomous underwater vehicle autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) can blend unobtrusively into its environment, minimizing its impact on the marine life it is studying. In addition to its ability to collect eDNA, Eve is equipped with a camera and sonar, allowing it to avoid obstacles as it glides through the water.
The eDNA collection process allows scientists to obtain valuable information about the species inhabiting a body of water without resorting to invasive techniques. The DNA samples collected by Eve can be analyzed in the laboratory, providing crucial data for the conservation of marine habitats, especially at a time of climate change and overfishing pose significant threats.
The DNA samples collected would be analyzed in a laboratory. Source: TUAN NGUYEN CAPITAL
Future tool for marine biologists
The students behind this project, belonging to the SURF-eDNA group at ETH Zurich, have worked for two years on the development of this fish. Their goal is for Eve to become a standard tool for marine biologists, facilitating more detailed and accessible studies of ocean biodiversity.
“By making ‘Eve’ look like a fish, we can be minimally invasive in the ecosystem we’re studying,” master’s student Dennis Baumann told CNN, adding that the biomimetic design should prevent other marine species from being spooked by its presence. “We can blend in, we can integrate into the ecosystem,” he added.
In the current context, where technology plays a crucial role in environmental protection, projects like Eve’s offer new hope for ocean conservation and the protection of endangered species.
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Source and photos: CNN
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