Scientists create robotic fish that uses blood to move

One small catch - the blood isn’t real. A liquid electrolyte courses through the robot’s veins, serving as a source of energy.

The development is credited to scientists from Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania. It is represented by a soft robot shaped like a fish. The unusual shape allows the 40-centimeter machine to operate underwater for a long time without any large or heavy batteries.

According to its creators, a full charge is enough for 37 hours of autonomous work. The robotic fish can swim at a speed of 1.5 lengths of its body per minute against the current.

The robot’s bloodstream is made up of extremely flexible artificial veins with flow batteries. Each battery contains an anode and a cathode that are separated by a membrane.

When the electrolyte (zinc iodide) is pumped through the positive and negative charges, energy is created, with the fins moving only because of the liquid’s movements. This system helps save 325% of the robot’s energy.

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