Explore Topics:
AIBiotechnologyRoboticsComputingFutureScienceSpaceEnergyTech

Fuji, the Bionic Dolphin With the Artificial Fin (video)

Aaron Saenz
Dec 26, 2010
Fuji the Bionic Dolphin

Share

Fuji the Bionic Dolphin

In the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, visitors still line up to see the world's first dolphin with an artificial fin. Fuji, now around 40 years old, lost much of her tail years ago to a necrotic disease. Around 75% of her fin had to be amputated. In 2004, Bridgestone, the largest manufacturer of tires in Japan, designed and built a replacement for Fuji made out of silicone, cushioned with foamed rubber, and reinforced with carbon fiber. The result was a life-like reproduction that was slightly smaller than the fin of a healthy adult, but still strong enough to let Fuji perform jumps and tricks in the Churaumi Dolphin Lagoon. Fuji's tail reportedly cost around 10 million yen, about $83,000 US. Not exactly Steve Austin levels of financing, but the results are still impressive.Watch the world's most famous bionic dolphin in the video below. You can see the fin very clearly starting at 0:15, and a trainer holds the tail out of the water around 1:00. You know prosthetics have come a long way when we can restore animals to their former glory. Enjoy the frolicking.

Be Part of the Future

Sign up to receive top stories about groundbreaking technologies and visionary thinkers from SingularityHub.

100% Free. No Spam. Unsubscribe any time.

[screen capture and video credits: Diagonal UK]
[source: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, ITN Source]

Related Articles

This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through February 8)

This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through February 8)

SingularityHub Staff
Anthropic Unveils the Strongest Defense Against AI Jailbreaks Yet

Anthropic Unveils the Strongest Defense Against AI Jailbreaks Yet

Edd Gent
Forget Nvidia: DeepSeek AI Runs Near Instantaneously on These Weird Chips

Forget Nvidia: DeepSeek AI Runs Near Instantaneously on These Weird Chips

Jason Dorrier
This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through February 8)

This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through February 8)

SingularityHub Staff
Anthropic Unveils the Strongest Defense Against AI Jailbreaks Yet
Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic Unveils the Strongest Defense Against AI Jailbreaks Yet

Edd Gent
Forget Nvidia: DeepSeek AI Runs Near Instantaneously on These Weird Chips
Computing

Forget Nvidia: DeepSeek AI Runs Near Instantaneously on These Weird Chips

Jason Dorrier

What we’re reading

Be Part of the Future

Sign up to receive top stories about groundbreaking technologies and visionary thinkers from SingularityHub.

100% Free. No Spam. Unsubscribe any time.

SingularityHub chronicles the technological frontier with coverage of the breakthroughs, players, and issues shaping the future.

Follow Us On Social

About

  • About Hub
  • About Singularity

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • Pitch Us
  • Brand Partnerships

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2025 Singularity