Fish on Wheels

[abaxas]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1939723822/fish-on-wheels

Poor fish

[nanofrog]

 

[madshaman]

Hey, it's not pretending to be something it's not.

[Neilm]

I predict it won't handle well - It'll be prone to fish tailing

[electr_peter]

Imagine that you live in a "room" which moves in a direction correspondent to your position (if you go off centre, it always moves).
That is probably worse than small and round aquarium.

On the other hand, you can say that you are being "fished" e.g. followed by fish.

[codeboy2k]

This could actually prove to be useful to scientists studying fish intelligence.

I think I'll apply for a government grant to buy one of these and study "Fish Responses to Various Local Stimulii Outside the Boundaries of the Aquarium"

Expect my paper soon.

[Astroplio]

I would like to see a variation of this; an octopus in the fish tank with a joystick.

[MacAttak]

Hmm. It doesn't mention anything so I guess it should be assumed that this will ship with a fish pre-installed?

[miguelvp]

I would like to see a variation of this; an octopus in the fish tank with a joystick.

Paul the Octopus can predict the World Cup (or is it dead now?) anyways, don't undermine the power of having 8 arms.  Sure he can drive this tank with his mind, no need for the joystick! 

[scientist]

Funny that his kit includes a full Beaglebone Black. Has he not considered making a custom board for way less money?

[CanadianAvenger]

Funny that his kit includes a full Beaglebone Black. Has he not considered making a custom board for way less money?

Given his likely sales volume, it's unlikely he'd be able to produce a custom PCB with the same processor [and required support components] for less.

[Stonent]

Surely they could find something to replace the BB.  Maybe hack one of those computer-on-a-dongle devices that I've seen for 20-ish dollars.

Or make a cradle to hold an iPhone / Android device and use its onboard camera.  Interface it over BT and make an application you can install on the phone.

[Stonent]

Another thought, does the sloshing water not mess with the camera's ability to get an accurate fish location?

If they made it so the tank part was sealed, or put it in an L shape so the fish would move in the bottom part of the L, and the sloshing would only happen in the top part, that might help.

[scientist]

I think he has it programmed to move such that it doesn't slosh around very much.

[electr_peter]

Another thought, does the sloshing water not mess with the camera's ability to get an accurate fish location?
[...]

Sloshing should not be an issue for 2D location estimation (because camera is far(high) enough from the sloshing action). 3D location of fish is more difficult (if even possible) task, but they do not do/need 3D.

[miguelvp]

Another thought, does the sloshing water not mess with the camera's ability to get an accurate fish location?
[...]

Sloshing should not be an issue for 2D location estimation (because camera is far(high) enough from the sloshing action). 3D location of fish is more difficult (if even possible) task, but they do not do/need 3D.

Optics will disagree since there is a refraction index between air and water based on the surface normal.
The good thing is that it will optically move the fish to the opposite side of the sloshing dampening the fish's steering capabilities.

But mobile water at electrical plugs height, controlled literally by a fish brain, is asking for trouble.

[fcb]

Pity I'll never get to find out (I'm a backer) - doesn't look like it is going to get funded.

[Astroplio]

Come on guys, fund this project. Then we can get online and race our fish. (In a virtual game from real world data.)

"My fish is faster than your fish."

"Dude, you doped your fish."

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/when-one-fish-gets-drunk-its-whole-school-swims-faster

Scientists, god love them, because you know, human societies and fish schools are the same!

Next thing to try: Draw a Christian cross on one, a Star and crescent on another, see who they follow (if any)...

When I read articles like this I always wonder, is this valid science?
A side topic really, not for this thread, I just wanted to share with you this link for now.

Have a nice Sunday.

[jaxbird]

Needs fish suicide option. If the fish performs a certain pattern, the blender starts!

Nah, it's silly, just stressing the poor fish and reacting to movements that's got nothing to do with the fish's desire to move the tank.

[nihilism]

I keep koi, silver perch, barramundi and rainbow trout. They all behave differently but the one thing they have in common is just about the only thing they care about is food. Given the ability to move their tank, most of my fish would follow me around the house all day because they know where the food comes from.

[SeanB]

Fish care about food. I used to keep an Oscar, and had a smaller tank with feeder fish as a weekly treat. If i showed Oscar the little net he would immediately swim close by the net, then follow it down to the bottom of the tank, then back up with the snack Tilapia. Only 2 were faster than him, and lived in the tank for a few years with him until they got too big, when I returned them to the dam.