Hannover, Germany, April 22, 2008—Propelled by flexible, electrically driven tentacles, robotic jellyfish swim at the Hannover Fair.

Using a type of "swarm intelligence," the Festo company's so-called AquaJellies set their own courses and can come together or avoid each other as needed. The robots "talk" via light pulses underwater and via radio at the surface.

But why? A Festo official told reporters Aquajellies “will be very useful in the factory of the future."

• More Photos in the News
• Today's Top 15 Most Popular Stories
• Free Email Newsletter: "Focus on Photography"