There is a new series on CPTV (Connecticut Public Television) called Spy in the Ocean, a nature miniseries - so it sounds limited. It is absolutely mindblowing. They have created robots that look and act very much like the creatures they are trying to interact with. Recent episodes included Cuttlefish, baby whales, baby seals, hermit crabs, and others. The seal segment was really excellent. the robots don't usually initiate contact, many of them rely on the inquisitive nature of babies of all species. So, the robot made friends with a baby seal. They would swim together and play games. Apparently, this species of seal travels inland to pools at the base of waterfalls where they practice certain behaviors they need to learn before venturing out into the open ocean. The trek to the waterfall pools is quite arduous and requires a lot of climbing. Initially, the robot didn't try to make the climb but the film crew saw that the seal they were filming was getting tired and depressed and was having a lot of trouble climbing to the pool so they put the robot in his path. They renewed their bond and played games which apparently releases endorphins that helped the seal regain his will to climb. So we watched him finish the climb and they must have moved the robot again because he ends up in the pool with the other youngsters playing pass the stick and other games that help them to learn cooperation to aid in their hunting skills. Absolutely riveting.
The robot cuttlefish had a screen on his back that let him make the same displays that the other cuttlefish were making. "She" attracted quite a few males who wanted to guard her until she was ready to mate.
The hermit crabs seem to all want to molt at the same time. They line up in order of size and they play musical shells as they move to the next larger size shell in the line
www.bbc.com
