Cyber-exotic instead of aquarium predator: robotic Bionic Arowana with realistic behavior

While the market is already accustomed to robotic dogs and even horses, the underwater theme is just beginning to reveal its potential. FullDepth presented an unusual device – Bionic Arowana, a mechanical fish that most accurately copies the appearance and habits of a real arowana.

Maximum realism: from appearance to movements

As a basis, the developers took Arowana – the famous “dragon fish”, which lives in the rivers of Southeast Asia and the Amazon and is considered one of the most expensive aquarium fish. Bionic Arowana almost completely repeats its appearance: the length of the device reaches 69 cm, and the weight is about 4 kg.

The body is made of silicone with a special coating that imitates the shine of the scales, thanks to which the robot looks as believable as possible even up close. But the main emphasis is not so much on the appearance as on the behavior: the artificial intelligence model is responsible for the movement, which allows the device to smoothly maneuver and reproduce the natural movements of the fish.

Autonomy and management: not just decoration

Robotic fish can reach speeds of up to 2 km/h and can work both autonomously and under the control of the user via the remote control. This makes it not only an element of the interior, but also an interactive device.

Power is supplied via induction charging, and one charge is enough for about 12 hours of operation.

Alternative to live fish: easier, but not cheaper

Live arowana is known not only for its cost, but also for the complexity of its content. She needs an aquarium with a volume of at least 500-800 liters, a powerful filtration system and regular feeding – and the diet includes shrimp, molluscs and other seafood.

On this background, Bionic Arowana looks like a much more practical solution: it does not need to be fed, it does not require maintenance and it does not make any demands on environmental conditions. However, it is difficult to call it a completely budget alternative – the expected price is about 5,000 dollars.

However, compared to live specimens, which can cost more than $20,000, such a “cyber fish” can be a compromise for those who want to get the visual effect without all the accompanying complexities of content.