Robotuna

(sfx: splashing water)

     SPEEDING THROUGH THE WATER AND SNAPPING UP FOOD, THE TUNA IS THE
FASTEST FISH IN THE WATER.  IT MOVES AT OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR, IT CAN QUICKLY
CHANGE DIRECTION, AND ALL WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ENERGY.  THE TUNA IS SO
EFFICIENT THAT SCIENTISTS AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HAVE TRIED TO BUILD A REPLICA IN THE HOPES THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER AND
FASTER THAN THE UNDER WATER VEHICLES CURRENTLY USED TO STUDY THE OCEAN. 
TO BUILD THE ROBOTUNA, THE SCIENTISTS SPENT HOURS SIMPLY WATCHING HOW THE
TUNA SWAM.  MICHAEL TRIANTAFYLLOU, WHO HEADS THE PROJECT, SAYS THAT THE
TUNA MAKES USE OF TINY WHIRLPOOLS, CALLED VORTICES, WHICH FORM AS IT SWIMS. 
NORMALLY, THE SUCTION FROM THE VORTICES WOULD SLOW THE FISH DOWN.
 
     Triantafyllou: "These spinning masses are formed. . . when the body moves, but the tuna
manipulates those whirlpools to it's advantage."
     FOR EXAMPLE, THE FISH CAN TURN ITS BODY SO THAT THE SPINNING WATER
ACTUALLY GIVES IT A PUSH FORWARD. OR IF A FLICK OF THE FISH'S TAIL CREATES A
VORTEX ON ONE SIDE OF ITS BODY, THE TUNA WILL PURPOSELY CREATE A MATCHING
ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE TO BALANCE ITSELF OUT. TO GET A ROBOT THAT MOVES AS
EFFICIENTLY, THE M.I.T. GROUP COPIED THE TUNA AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.  CHARLIE
THE TESTING TANK TUNA, AS THEY CALL IT, HAS 40 METAL RIBS CONNECTED TO A
BACKBONE, A SET OF FOAM MUSCLES AND A SMOOTH LYCRA SKIN.  TRIANTAFYLLOU
HOPES THAT SOMEDAY A WHOLE FLEET OF FISH ROBOTS WILL BE ABLE TO ZIP
THROUGH THE OCEAN COLLECTING DATA ON THE SEA WATER, INTERESTING MARINE
LIFE, EVEN SUNKEN BOATS.

     Triantafyllou: "what we want to do is have . . . one hundred of them, throw them in the water. . .
they find what we want them to find , then they come back.  it's very inexpensive and its very safe."         
     NEXT THEY WILL TRY TO IMPROVE ON MOTHER NATURE AND MAKE AN EVEN
MORE EFFICIENT UNDERWATER ROBOT.