Tai-robot-kun’s creator, professor Ikuo Yamamoto, says the robot can easily be mass-produced, outfitted with various cameras and sensors, and released into the sea to perform a wide range of oceanographic survey tasks. He adds that because the robot swims silently and looks like a real fish, it would be able to gather data without alarming the creatures it encounters.

The engineers involved in the project say they are ready to mass-produce the robot, which is currently a unique piece. The fish was shown to the general public during an event on the university campus last week. A robotic manta ray is in development as well.