Researchers in Israel who study animal behavior managed to train six goldfish how to drive a tiny robotic car.
The experiment began when the scientists from Ben-Gurion University wondered if an animal's navigational skills depended on their environment or if these abilities surpassed their setting.
The scientists engineered a unique vehicle, including a water tank on wheels with overhead cameras that track the goldfish's movements. They created a system wherein the fish were rewarded a treat if they were able to reach a target on the wall in a small room.
Amazingly, the goldfish were not only able to navigate the vehicle towards the desired spot, but they were able to detect false targets from real ones and overcome obstacles that were in the way.
At first, the animals needed around 30 minutes to complete the task but eventually improved their performance, pulling it off in less than a minute.
According to the researchers, this experiment shows navigation is a skill that can transfer from water to land.