Washington, Nov 3: In a development that will bring environmental monitoring to a whole new level, scientists in the US are making a robot which will swim like fish to probe underwater environments and give more precise data on aquatic conditions.

Researchers at the Michigan State University said, the robotic fish that will use advanced materials to swim will be providing a consistent level of data that hasn’t been possible before.

Xiaobo Tan and Elena Litchman of the university said, with these patrolling fish we will be able to obtain information at an unprecedentedly high spatial and temporal resolution.

Such data are essential for researchers to have a more complete picture of what is happening under the surface as climate change and other outside forces disrupt the freshwater ecosystems. It will bring environmental monitoring to a whole new level, Litchman said.

The robotic fish will carry sensors recording such things as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pollutants and harmful algae and will provide researchers far more precise data on aquatic conditions, deepening their knowledge of critical water supplies and habitats, the university said.

This project will greatly advance bio-robotic technology, Tan said, adding The project is very practical and we are designing the fish to be inexpensive so they can be used in various applications.