Princeton and Harvard Universities' research reveals that fish schools use a 'staircase' formation instead of the previously believed diamond shape. This discovery, published in Scientific Reports, challenges a model accepted since the 1970s.
The study used AI and biomechanics to analyze the movements of giant danio fish. Researchers recorded the fish for ten hours, using computer vision software to track their positions in three dimensions. The 'staircase' formation, where fish are staggered in height, was observed in 79% of fish pairs.
This finding has implications for robotics, particularly in the design of underwater robot swarms. The research also suggests a need to revise classic hydrodynamic models, as the benefits of group formation may come from various temporary configurations. Further research will explore the organization of other animals in 3D and the synchronization of movements in larger fish schools.