Designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the world’s shipping industry, the robot offers a solution to spiralling fuel costs and marine related pollution while removing harmful, non-indigenous species that could be transferred to local waters.
Operating in a similar way to the automatic carpet cleaner, the robot has been developed out of an EU-funded project called HISMAR (Hull Identification System for Marine Autonomous Robotics) and is able to navigate its own way across the ship’s hull.
First a map of the hull is automatically charted, recording the location of every weld, thickness change, rivet and indentation on the ship’s surface.
The robot is magnetically attached to the ship’s side and sent off on its journey of the hull, following a planned route and cleaning as it goes.
Adjustable jets of pressurised sea water blast the marine growth off the surface of the ship which is then sucked up into the main chamber.
Here, 150 litres of water a minute is filtered and the bio-fouling removed and rendered harmless to the local environment.
In this way, the ship’s robotic ‘vacuum’ can continuously roam the ship’s hull, preventing the build up of slime and allowing it to travel through the water efficiently by cutting down on drag.
This significantly reduces fuel consumption and also pollution such as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Newcastle University’s Professor Tony Roskilly, leading the project, said: 'Marine growth on ships is a huge environmental and financial problem for the marine industry and HISMAR offers a unique solution to both of these – and more.
'What we have created is a system that works totally independently – in or out of the water – and not only keeps the ship clean but also feeds back vital information about the hull’s condition.
'Because the map it follows is so detailed, if there is a change to its path caused by corrosion or a crack in the steel then it feeds this information back. This means it can be used as an additional check on the seaworthiness of the ship’s hull or highlight potential future problems.
'And because the drive module and navigational system are separate to the cleaning tools we hope that ultimately we will be able to fit it with different tools to carry out different tasks – such as stripping and painting the hull.'
Led by Newcastle University, the international team of experts will present a prototype of the robot at the largest marine maintenance fair in the world - Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology in Hamburg - on September 23rd.
Until the beginning of this year, ships used antifouling paints to protect them from the corrosive environment, with Tributyltin (TBT) added as a biocide to also prevent marine growth.
However, it was found to contaminate the surrounding water – having a serious detrimental impact on other marine life - and this summer it became illegal worldwide to use TBT antifouling coatings.
Newcastle University’s Jonathan Heslop, a researcher on the project, explains: 'All other developed cleaning or inspection systems currently available are remotely controlled during their operation, requiring highly skilled and experienced operators to effectively clean the hull, while the ship is out of operation and usually out of the water.
'The advantage of the HISMAR robot is that it is an autonomous system so it can continue cleaning with the ship remaining in service – feeding back hull information as it does so – resulting in very little build up of slime, reduced fuel costs and much less pollution.'
The HISMAR robot uses a novel optical dead-reckoning system in conjunction with a magnetic system to identify the location of surface and sub-surface features to build up a detailed map of the ship’s hull. It is this navigation system which allows the robot to operate above and below the waterline whilst the ship is in port or at anchor.
Provided by Newcastle University
Alpha Technology Headline Animator
Thursday 3 September 2009
Canon D10 great for underwater photography
I might be a little biased since I have worked for Canon, but the proof is in the photos. I took the camera on a snorkeling trip last month in the Caribbean, in addition to lots of use in swimming pools, and each time it performed to perfection.
In each case, I set the camera on auto white balance (AWB) and chose the underwater scene mode. In addition to being waterproof, the submarine looking camera is 12 megapixels, freeze proof and shockproof. Even with all these features, it requires no underwater housing like previous Canon cameras.
Other features include a 3X optical zoom with 35mm film equivalent of 35-105mm, optical image stabilization and a movie mode, which films at 30 frames per second. The waterproof feature is good to 33 feet and can operate in temperatures from 14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The shockproof feature works from four feet.
Face recognition, red-eye controls, a 2.5-inch LCD and Canon's advanced DIGIC 4 image processor are included. In simple terms, the processor is what makes the digital images look good in both day and night scenes.
The D10 offers 21 shooting modes, including auto, sunset, fireworks, aquarium, underwater, ISO 3200, indoor, kids & pets and movie mode.
An optional accessory kit can be purchased separately and includes cables that can tether the camera to a carabineer strap, a shoulder and neck strap as well as front covers. The covers simply change the look of the camera but the cables are a handy item when underwater.
Taking underwater photos is very different than on land. Before going into the water, users should set all their settings and become familiar with the camera's functions. Testing it in a pool is a great idea before adventuring into deeper water.
___
Protection is a good thing for today's digital gadgets and iSkin has few new products to help out.
The first is the ProTouch keyboard protector, which is a silicone product for Macintosh computers.
To me, it's a rubber mat, which fits nicely on top of your keyboard. iSkin says it has "built-in Microban protection provides continuous cleaning action, inhibiting the growth of damaging microbes, such as bacteria, that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration."
What it all means is the product is a nice addition to any of today's current Macintosh laptops. When not in use, it can be rolled up or just stuffed into any computer bag, but with my MacBook Pro I'm able to keep it on the keyboard even when the laptop is closed.
If you do get a spill on it or it gets dirty, just wash it with warm water and detergent. Please make sure its 100 percent dry before using it again.
They come in different styles and colors depending on the computer model so check the iSkin website for pricing and styles.
Another new product is the iSkin Vibes and Vibes FX. These are a new line of cases designed to protect several of today's popular BlackBerrys (Curve 8900, Bold 9000 and Storm 9500).
They fit on the devices like a glove to offer protection from dust, dirt and scratches. Each case also features a non-slip surface along with built-in button and port access along with a protective ultra-clear screen film cover.
___
YesVideo has a solution for the stacks of VHS tapes or even 8mm movies many people have tucked away in a closet. With technology changing by the minute, it's even hard to find a VHS player at most any electronic store and an 8mm projector is limited to garage sales or eBay.
YesVideo makes it simple for users to put those old memories to use by converting them to DVD's. In addition to the footage you supply, they will add chapter menus, themes and other personalized touches to produce professional-quality videos. The service also includes the transfer of 35mm slides and prints to DVD's.
The company's new Order Form Wizard online tool helps customers through the ordering process. The step-by-step form will prepare the DVD orders and give an estimate of costs.
With the new system, users will easily find features, pricing, options and instructions before dropping the order off for processing at one of the participating retailers. Those include Costco, CVS/pharmacy, Ritz/Wolf Camera, Rite Aid and Walgreens.
"Consumers know their memories fade away on legacy formats such as 8mm film or VHS tapes and it's smart to move to the latest DVD technologies. We are committed not only to providing the highest quality video transfer service available, but to ensure that the customer experience as hassle-free as possible," said Gregory Ayres, Chief Operating Officer of YesVideo in a recent press release.
On the web: yesvideo.com
In each case, I set the camera on auto white balance (AWB) and chose the underwater scene mode. In addition to being waterproof, the submarine looking camera is 12 megapixels, freeze proof and shockproof. Even with all these features, it requires no underwater housing like previous Canon cameras.
Other features include a 3X optical zoom with 35mm film equivalent of 35-105mm, optical image stabilization and a movie mode, which films at 30 frames per second. The waterproof feature is good to 33 feet and can operate in temperatures from 14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The shockproof feature works from four feet.
Face recognition, red-eye controls, a 2.5-inch LCD and Canon's advanced DIGIC 4 image processor are included. In simple terms, the processor is what makes the digital images look good in both day and night scenes.
The D10 offers 21 shooting modes, including auto, sunset, fireworks, aquarium, underwater, ISO 3200, indoor, kids & pets and movie mode.
An optional accessory kit can be purchased separately and includes cables that can tether the camera to a carabineer strap, a shoulder and neck strap as well as front covers. The covers simply change the look of the camera but the cables are a handy item when underwater.
Taking underwater photos is very different than on land. Before going into the water, users should set all their settings and become familiar with the camera's functions. Testing it in a pool is a great idea before adventuring into deeper water.
___
Protection is a good thing for today's digital gadgets and iSkin has few new products to help out.
The first is the ProTouch keyboard protector, which is a silicone product for Macintosh computers.
To me, it's a rubber mat, which fits nicely on top of your keyboard. iSkin says it has "built-in Microban protection provides continuous cleaning action, inhibiting the growth of damaging microbes, such as bacteria, that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration."
What it all means is the product is a nice addition to any of today's current Macintosh laptops. When not in use, it can be rolled up or just stuffed into any computer bag, but with my MacBook Pro I'm able to keep it on the keyboard even when the laptop is closed.
If you do get a spill on it or it gets dirty, just wash it with warm water and detergent. Please make sure its 100 percent dry before using it again.
They come in different styles and colors depending on the computer model so check the iSkin website for pricing and styles.
Another new product is the iSkin Vibes and Vibes FX. These are a new line of cases designed to protect several of today's popular BlackBerrys (Curve 8900, Bold 9000 and Storm 9500).
They fit on the devices like a glove to offer protection from dust, dirt and scratches. Each case also features a non-slip surface along with built-in button and port access along with a protective ultra-clear screen film cover.
___
YesVideo has a solution for the stacks of VHS tapes or even 8mm movies many people have tucked away in a closet. With technology changing by the minute, it's even hard to find a VHS player at most any electronic store and an 8mm projector is limited to garage sales or eBay.
YesVideo makes it simple for users to put those old memories to use by converting them to DVD's. In addition to the footage you supply, they will add chapter menus, themes and other personalized touches to produce professional-quality videos. The service also includes the transfer of 35mm slides and prints to DVD's.
The company's new Order Form Wizard online tool helps customers through the ordering process. The step-by-step form will prepare the DVD orders and give an estimate of costs.
With the new system, users will easily find features, pricing, options and instructions before dropping the order off for processing at one of the participating retailers. Those include Costco, CVS/pharmacy, Ritz/Wolf Camera, Rite Aid and Walgreens.
"Consumers know their memories fade away on legacy formats such as 8mm film or VHS tapes and it's smart to move to the latest DVD technologies. We are committed not only to providing the highest quality video transfer service available, but to ensure that the customer experience as hassle-free as possible," said Gregory Ayres, Chief Operating Officer of YesVideo in a recent press release.
On the web: yesvideo.com
New Solar Underwater Robot Technology
Image: Solar-powered Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (SAUV). Photo: RPI/Sanderson in collaboration with Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute, Falmouth Scientific Inc., and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Arthur C. Sanderson, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will display the robotic technology being developed by a team of research groups, including Rensselaer, and led by the Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute directed by D. Richard Blidberg.
Sanderson also will participate on a panel of six robotics experts who recently completed a study to be released at the Sept. 16 workshop. The World Technology Evaluation Center International Study of Robotics is a two-year look at robotics research and development in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Western Europe.
As the principal investigator of an NSF-funded project called RiverNet, Sanderson is working collaboratively with other researchers to develop a network of distributed sensing devices and water-monitoring robots, including the first solar-powered autonomous underwater vehicles (SAUVs).
“Once fully realized, this underwater robot technology will allow better observation and monitoring of complex aquatic systems, and will support advances in basic environmental science as well as applications to environmental management and security and defense programs,” said Sanderson.
The SAUV technology allows underwater robots to be deployed long-term by using solar power to replenish onboard energy. Long-term deployment of SAUVs will allow detection of chemical and biological trends in lakes, rivers, and waterways that may guide the management and improvement of water quality. Autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with sensors are currently used for water monitoring, but must be taken out of the water frequently to recharge the batteries.
According to Sanderson, the SAUVs communicate and network with one another in real time to assess a water body as a whole in measuring how it changes over space and time. Key technologies used in SAUVs include integrated sensor microsystems, pervasive computing, wireless communications, and sensor mobility with robotics. Sanderson notes that the underwater vehicles have captured the attention of the U.S. Navy, which will evaluate their use for coastal surveillance applications.
The SAUV weighs 370 pounds, travels at speeds of up to 2 miles per hour, and is designed to dive to depths of 500 meters.
Sanderson and his colleagues will continue field testing the vehicles in coming months at locations including Rensselaer’s Darrin Fresh Water Institute on Lake George, N.Y., to determine communication, interaction, and maneuvering capabilities in testing dissolved oxygen levels, one of the most important indicators of water quality for aquatic life.
Sanderson is collaborating on SAUV development with the Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute, Falmouth Scientific Inc., the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and Technology Systems Inc.
The Sept. 16 workshop is sponsored by NSF, NASA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The international robotics study was organized by the World Technology Evaluation Center, a United States-based organization conducting international research assessments.
“This gathering of researchers and their robots shows the necessity of federal support for basic research that leads to new technologies with useful applications in health care, the environment, and industry,” said Sanderson.
Source: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Latest Invention: Lip-Reading Computers Able to Identify Different Languages
One of the latest inventions created by scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) are lip-reading computers that are able to identify different languages.
Scientists managed to come up with lip-reading computers some time earlier but now they created the first computer that can really distinguish different languages. This latest invention could prove to be very useful for people with hearing problems, as well as for law enforcement agencies, and in noisy environments.
The revolutionary research is currently led by Stephen Cox and Jake Newman of UEA's School of Computing Sciences. They will present their latest invention at a major conference that will take place in Taiwan on April 22.
It is worth mentioning that the technology was built up by statistical modeling of the lip movements developed by a team of 23 bilingual and trilingual speakers. The system could distinguish any language with extremely high accuracy. It could identify English, French, German, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Polish and Russian, reports the UEA website.
"This is the first scientific confirmation that when people speak different languages, they use different mouth shapes in different sequences," outlined Prof Cox.
"For example, we found frequent 'lip-rounding' among French speakers and more prominent tongue movements among Arabic speakers," he added.
The study was funded by the EPSRC and is a part of a larger project of the University of East Anglia that focuses on automatic lip-reading. Soon scientists will start working on the system closer to an individual's physiology and their way of speaking.
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