Technology1 min read

Dutch engineer builds goldfish-driven car, sets Guinness record

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The motorized rig features a transparent water tank positioned on a four-wheeled base equipped with a camera that translates fish movements into corresponding vehicle navigation. During a verified trial in Milan, a goldfish named Blub directed the vehicle across 12.28 meters in a single minute. Official adjudicators confirmed the result by tracking colored marks on the wheels as the vehicle traveled across the studio floor. Following the demonstration, the inventor expressed interest in exploring human mobility applications for the navigation technology.

Key points

  • Motion-sensing camera technology successfully translated the real-time movements of an aq…: Motion-sensing camera technology successfully translated the real-time movements of an aquatic pet into mechanical vehicular navigation.
  • The trial substantially exceeded the official five-meter threshold required to secure the…: The trial substantially exceeded the official five-meter threshold required to secure the formal Guinness World Record.
  • The project demonstrates an unconventional tracking concept that could potentially be ada…: The project demonstrates an unconventional tracking concept that could potentially be adapted to support people with physical impairments.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A goldfish swimming inside a water tank has earned a

Guinness World Records title after steering a motorised vehicle for 12.28 metres in just one minute. The unusual invention was created by Dutch computer engineer Thomas de Wolf, whose pet goldfish, Blub, became the unlikely driver of a motion-sensing car that translates the fish’s movements into directions for its wheels. According to Guinness World Records (GWR), Blub and de Wolf achieved the record for the greatest distance covered in a motion-sensing vehicle by a goldfish in one minute. The attempt took place on the set of Italian television programme Lo Show dei Record in Milan on January 23, 2025, with the achievement reported publicly by Guinness in March 2026. Blub covered 12.28 metres (40 feet and 3.46 inches), comfortably exceeding the minimum distance of five metres required for the record.

The vehicle was presented during the programme hosted by Gerry Scotti, with Guinness adjudicator Sofia Greenacre overseeing the attempt. After the record was confirmed, de Wolf received an official certificate and medal alongside his aquatic companion.

How does a goldfish…

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