Remote Underwater Exploration
Interesting news and activities
NZ’s Hawkes Bay Regional Council has their own BlueROV2 to allow their coastal and marine scientists to map local sub-tidal habitats and conduct underwater inspections themselves. Full article at: Scoop Regional 17may18
HBRC Science staff Anna Madarasz-Smith and Shane Gilmer with Big Blue
Photo Credit: Scoop Independent News
The US Army Corps of Engineers used a VideoRay Pro4 to inspect a hurricane-damaged dam in Puerto Rico as a pre-dive safety assessment.
“We first used an ROV to give us an idea of the safety conditions below the water, before we were willing to send a diver down there, as well as inspect and record portions of the structure that would not be accessible to one of our divers” said Weston Cross, a Buffalo District Engineer and dive team member. “We were able to determine that the gates were where they were supposed to be, the concrete was in good condition, and there weren’t any obstructions that could foul the diver.”
Full article available at: DVIDS News, 31mar18
The US Coast Guard will use scanning sonar and a Commanche ROV used to assess damage to subsea utility cables in the Straits of Mackinac, between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Full story available at: USCG 15apr18
UPDATE 24apr18 – Electrical cable wires were completely severed by a ship’s anchor. Full story at: MiNews26 – Underwater imagery Reveals Cables… 24apr18
Interesting to see how robotics applications are widening: BBC – Super Monster Wolf, 06mar18
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Full story can be read here: National Geographic – 21mar18[/cs_text][x_video_embed no_container=”false” type=”16:9″][/x_video_embed][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]