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Courtesy of Edge Innovations
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This Dolphin Is a Robot!
This robot looks and swims just like a dolphin—and it could help protect real marine mammals.
On a bright spring day, a crowd watches a bottlenose dolphin swim in a pool. The dolphin speeds through the water, then rises to the surface and lets audience members pat its head.
Dolphin shows are common at marine parks. But this show is different than most of the others. Its star is an 8-foot-long robot designed to look and behave like a dolphin!
The robot was developed by a California company called Edge Innovations. The company hopes to reduce the number of dolphins and other animals living and performing at marine parks. It’s creating lifelike robots for parks to use instead.
A Dolphin Debate
More than 3,000 dolphins and other marine mammals live in captivity around the world. Many were captured in the wild. Others were found on beaches or born to parents already in captivity. Parks often use these animals to teach visitors about ocean life and to entertain.
But in recent years, many people have spoken out against keeping dolphins and whales in captivity. They say these creatures travel up to 60 miles a day in the wild. They argue that the animals in tanks suffer—and that they do not live as long as they might in the ocean.
These concerns have led Canada and some other countries to pass laws against keeping dolphins and whales in captivity. In the U.S., people are concerned too. Attendance at many marine parks has gone down.
Edge Innovations hopes to make robotic versions of other creatures for marine parks. Someday visitors might safely snorkel with robots of ocean predators, like this great white shark.
Robots to the Rescue
Walt Conti of Edge Innovations thinks robots can give parks a new way to teach people.
“Marine parks help people fall in love with the ocean and the animals that live in it,” he says. “Our idea is to help parks do this in a different way.”
Edge has already made two dolphin robots that it uses for demonstrations. It’s working on dozens of new robots for parks in China.
Nathan Frandino via REUTERS
Dolphin robots like this one are operated by remote control.
Keeping It Real
To build a robot, Edge engineers work closely with wildlife experts and artists. They watch videos to study the real animal’s movements.
“We do a deep dive into understanding the animal,” Conti says.
For now, Edge’s robots are operated mostly by remote control. But engineers are finding ways to make them more autonomous, or able to move around on their own. Conti hopes that will make the robots even more lifelike—and help them win over park crowds.
Shutterstock.com
A girl gives a treat to a real dolphin at a marine park.
Your Turn: Would you like to design a robot version of an animal? Which one? How would you use it?
1) What is the main goal of Edge Innovations?
2) Why are some people against keeping marine mammals in captivity?
3) What is the section “Keeping It Real” mainly about?