03/02/2026
Researchers in the United Kingdom have developed a bio-inspired robot fish designed to swim through the ocean and collect microplastics that are difficult to remove using conventional cleanup methods.
The project was developed by scientists at the University of Surrey, where engineers focused on mimicking natural fish movements to reduce energy use and allow smooth navigation through marine environments.
Unlike traditional ocean-cleaning devices, this robot does not rely on batteries or external charging. It uses a synthetic stomach system that breaks down plastic waste and converts it into usable energy.
This approach turns pollution into fuel, meaning the more plastic the robot encounters, the longer it can continue operating autonomously without human intervention.
Innovations like this highlight how robotics and environmental science are merging to address ocean pollution in scalable and sustainable ways, especially as microplastic contamination continues to rise globally.
