Scientists train goldfish to drive a fish-operated vehicle

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of training goldfish to operate a vehicle, specifically a fish-operated vehicle (FOV) that navigates terrestrial environments. Participants explore the implications, humor, and related historical examples of animal training in unusual contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise and amusement at the idea of goldfish driving a vehicle, referencing the novelty of the concept.
  • There are humorous suggestions for related media, such as a fictional movie titled "Cars 4 - Driving Nemo" and a fish-themed ride-sharing service called "Fuber."
  • One participant questions whether the fish would need to be trained to use an app, highlighting the absurdity of the scenario.
  • A technical description of the FOV is provided, noting that it uses a camera and lidar sensor for navigation without physical controls.
  • Another participant mentions a similar project from 2014, suggesting continuity in research or interest in animal navigation.
  • Historical references are made to projects involving pigeons and chimps during WWII, drawing parallels to the current discussion about animal training.
  • One participant raises a question about whether a random walk by the fish would yield similar success in navigation, indicating curiosity about the effectiveness of the training method.
  • There is a mention of a related article, suggesting ongoing interest in the topic and its coverage in various media.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a sense of humor and curiosity about the topic, but there is no consensus on the implications or effectiveness of the training methods discussed. Multiple viewpoints and humorous takes remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some technical details about the FOV's operation and the training process are mentioned, but there are no specific experimental results or comparisons provided to assess the effectiveness of the training versus random navigation methods.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in animal behavior, experimental psychology, or humorous takes on scientific research may find this discussion engaging.

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Coming soon, Cars 4 - Driving Nemo. :oldtongue:
 
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Can I get this as a skin for GTA 6?
 
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How about Fuber -- Fish uber ?
 
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Wouldn't they have to be trained to use an app?
 
Borg said:
Wouldn't they have to be trained to use an app?
The FOV is, in essence, a fish tank on wheels. Unlike the rat-mobile, there are no physical controls for the fish to learn to use. Instead, a downward-looking camera tracks the fish's position in the tank. If the fish is near one of the tank walls and is facing outward, the fish-control algorithm (which runs on an onboard Raspberry Pi 3B+) will move the FOV in that direction. A lidar sensor on the same mast overrides the fish control algorithm if the FOV comes within 20 cm of the walls of the terrestrial environment, a 4x3 meter enclosure.

and here's the video

 
Interesting. I found a very similar video from 2014. Looks like it might be the same group.
 
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In WW2, there work on using pigeons to direct a mob to a target:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon?wprov=sfti1

in the movies, there was Project X where chimps were taught to fly nuclear bombers since they had no notion of nuclear radiation and would fly until they die

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_X_(1987_film)

and let’s not forget the Shaggy Dog

1641355276960.jpeg
 
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Sounds kinda fishy!

Did they do a comparison if a random walk would be just as successful.
 
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Too bad they are not making new episodes of The Big Bang Theory. I'm sure they could have had fun with a mobile fish tank. Perhaps with Sheldon in the tank.
 
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