May 31 2010
The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is being monitored by the Seaglider Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) of iRobot, a leading robotic technology enabled systems vendor. This vehicle functions as a platform for gathering ocean data in the Gulf of Mexico.
This deep diving and un-tethered UUV designed for missions covering thousands of miles and lasting many months is capable of performing long endurance missions since it is propelled through the water by buoyancy changes, instead of conventional propeller systems. Since the UUV need not be retrieved or operated from a ship to collect data, it functions like a cost-effective platform. More than these 120 UUVs have been provided to customers round the globe, including the research establishments, government agencies and the U.S. Navy.
iRobot is collaborating with University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory’s Dr. Craig Lee and Dr. Vernon Asper of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Science Department.
Joe Dyer, president of Government and Industrial Robots division of iRobot informed that conventionally gliders have demonstrated their capability to serve as utility tools for oceanographers and researchers to gather ocean data. He explained that this technology is likely to provide a scope for gas and oil industries for monitoring current lines as well as detecting new offshore oil resources.
Dr. Vernon Asper highlighted the importance of tracking hydrocarbons that could remain at depths for prolonged time periods. He added that earlier data has suggested the possibility of some of the hydrocarbons at depths below 700 m and it also appeared to move.
Source: http://www.irobot.com