Researchers hope more advanced robot fish in future will be able to contribute to sea life conservation and the control of pest species. Lead research scientist Dr Maurizio Porfiri said: ‘These findings provide practical evidence that a species’ preference for conspecifics may be used to inspire the design of robots which can actively engage their source of inspiration. ‘New studies are currently under way in our lab investigating the interactions between fish and robotic fish when they are free to swim together under controlled and ecologically complex condition.’ The scientists did not say why they gave the fish a smiling expression, but its friendly demeanor seemed to do the trick.