Most fish farms are set up close to shorelines or inside saltwater basins. It’s just more convenient that way — easier to bring in food, check the equipment, keep an eye on things. But being near land has its problems. The water in those areas tends to get dirty fast. Waste from households, runoff from farms, and leftover chemicals often make their way right into the fish pens.
When the pollution builds up, fish start getting sick. Some don’t survive. For the farm, that’s a loss in both stock and money. That’s why water quality has to be watched closely. These days, farms use sensors and underwater machines for that. They’re useful, sure, but not without issues.
The robots make a lot of noise and can’t move well in tight spaces. And there’s another thing — fish get spooked. Instead of just collecting data quietly, the machines end up stirring up the whole place.
A Prototype That Looks Just Like a Real Fish
The new Ichthus V5.5 prototype looks almost exactly like a trout. That’s no coincidence — trout is not just a common food fish, it also pops up in games, films, and even in the iGaming space. In the water, the robot moves with the same natural flow, curving and gliding like the real thing. It was built for one job: quietly patrolling fish farms and spotting early signs of pollution.
It’s about 50 cm long and weighs just under 5 kg. Instead of spinning propellers, it has a tail that sways like a real fish’s. That makes it almost noiseless and helps it blend in with the rest of the aquatic environment.
Right now, Ichthus is being tested in South Korea’s Han River. No need for remote control — it swims on its own and heads back to its charger when needed. The team behind it plans to launch several at once. They believe that releasing a small group will let them cover more ground at the same time and quickly pass along data on water quality.
How Engineers Taught the Robot to Swim Naturally
To get Ichthus moving like an actual fish, the engineers skipped the usual propellers altogether. Instead, they broke the body into three flexible parts. Each of them shifts in sync, based on an algorithm that came from studying how carp swim. It’s kind of like how real fish muscles work together — smooth and coordinated.
The tail runs on its own control system. Its motion follows a formula that copies the wave-like patterns seen in tuna, trout, and carp. That’s what lets Ichthus glide through water without sudden moves or extra noise. No propellers pushing it forward — just soft ripples, like any river fish would make.
Fast Turns and Energy Efficiency
Ichthus uses just half the energy of typical underwater robots with propellers. Thanks to its streamlined body and tail-powered movement, it takes advantage of the swirls it creates while swimming. That’s a trick dolphins also use when migrating — they ride the currents to go farther without burning extra energy.
It’s also surprisingly nimble. The robot can turn almost on the spot, with a turning radius that’s only about a tenth of its length. That really comes in handy when moving through tight spaces or weaving between nets. Onboard sensors track things like temperature, acidity, and pressure, and can also spot obstacles nearby. And when the battery starts running low, Ichthus doesn’t wait — it just heads back to its buoy to recharge.
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