CIA Celebrates Robot Fish “Charlie” on National Catfish Day

By: Hassanain Tayea

The US-based Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s Office of Advanced Technologies and Programs celebrated on Wednesday, June 26, the devising of the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) fish on the occasion of the National Catfish Day.

The Robotic fish origin: 

Charlie was firstly developed in 1990 to study aquatic robot technology, act as a spy tool on enemies and collect information.

The robotic fish contains a pressure hull, ballast system, and communications system in the body and a propulsion system in the tail. It is controlled by a wireless line-of-sight radio handset.

Charlie had design capabilities that included speed, endurance, maneuverability, depth control, and radio communications.

The National Catfish Day

National Catfish Day is celebrated each year on June 25. In the United States; the  country celebrates the value of farm-raised catfish.

The fish, a wide group of ray-finned fish, was named catfish for their prominent barbels, which resemble cat whiskers.

HISTORY;

President Ronald Reagan designated June 25 as National Catfish Day in 1987 by Presidential Proclamation after Congress called for the day to be established by Joint Resolution 178.

Catfish Specifications:

Catfish are nocturnal.

They don’t have scales.

They are a good source of Vitamin D.

In the United States, the most commonly eaten species are the channel catfish and the blue catfish.

This fine finned fish, a favorite dish of many Americans, can be prepared in many different ways. A traditional preparation method in the United States is to coat it with cornmeal and fry it.

In 1986, catfish comprised the third highest volume of finned fish consumed in the United States.