 | erdos0 |
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Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:21:17 am
The crisis in Japan seems to be fading from the media already, but I am still following the developments in the nuclear power plant situation. I have been reading about workers getting exposed to radiation while trying to keep the reactors cool, and I keep wondering why robots aren't being used. I understand that dexterity beyond what we can achieve with current technology is required to connect power lines to the pumps, and to repair the pumps, but dexterity is not required to dump water. Large buckets dumping water from the air missed due to winds. A robot could just walk in with a hose and be right on target.
Ionizing radiation may interfere with the computer system of a robot, but shielding should not add too much weight for this to be practical. Even if shielding of electronics isn't possible, a fully hydraulic robot is theoretically possible to develop, which would be entirely immune to all effects of radiation.
Japan's robotics research is very advanced. This should not be a problem. An ASIMO is probably far more capable than what is needed for this. It doesn't even need to be an android. A remote controlled vehicle with a water cannon would suffice. Maybe instead of robots, we need to bring in the Mythbusters.
EDIT: They need these:
Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:03:46 am
Excellent point! This is the perfect example of how robotics should be used. Why isn't this even being discussed as an option?
Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:50:08 am
they don't have robots capable of these things. not enough dexterity, not strong enough, not mobile enough, not enough battery longevity, etc.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:50:40 am
re: comment#1
Excellent point! This is the perfect example of how robotics should be used. Why isn't this even being discussed as an option?
It should have been the first option. The bomb squad has robots for diffusing bombs. Nuclear power plants should have robots for handling emergencies like this.Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:51:30 am
re: comment#2
they don't have robots capable of these things. not enough dexterity, not strong enough, not mobile enough, not enough battery longevity, etc.
How much dexterity do you need to carry a hose?
Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:58:37 am
Hey, if South Korea wants to hire robots to teach English in the classrooms, the robot should be good enough to dose radiation in the neighboring country.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:03:30 am
re: comment#2
they don't have robots capable of these things. not enough dexterity, not strong enough, not mobile enough, not enough battery longevity, etc.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:04:02 am
re: comment#5
Hey, if South Korea wants to hire robots to teach English in the classrooms, the robot should be good enough to dose radiation in the neighboring country.
It's good to be multipurpose.Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:05:13 am
re: comment#7
It's good to be multipurpose.
Teach the children by day and save the children by night? I think so.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:05:39 am
re: comment#8
Teach the children by day and save the children by night?
I think so.
That could also make a good comic book story.I think so.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:10:14 am
agrees with: comment#9
That could also make a good comic book story.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:24:39 am
agrees with: comment#3
It should have been the first option. The bomb squad has robots for diffusing bombs. Nuclear power plants should have robots for handling emergencies like this.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:34:01 am
I was just watching some footage of fireman volunteers being pep-talked before going to work on the site. Appeals to bravery and sacrifice are often very effective to get humans to work for a period in unhealthy or even dangerous situations. As long as 'heroic' humans are willing to jeopardize themselves in sufficient numbers the need to use new methods and techniques that don't involve humans is lessened. Still, I agree that those in charge should be issuing those fireman water-cannon armed segue-bots, or at least attempting to make them available.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:51:43 am
agrees with this post
Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:48:58 am
they probably have to go over rubble, climb stairs and ladders, unsnag the hoses when they go around corners and obstructions; we do not have the technology and if we did it would be used for killing before it would be used for saving lives.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:53:43 am
though, they could probably place the segway and then get the frak out of there.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:56:10 am
agrees with this post
Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:50:22 am
agrees with: comment#3
It should have been the first option. The bomb squad has robots for diffusing bombs. Nuclear power plants should have robots for handling emergencies like this.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:50:55 am
The problem I see with your proposed solution is that there must be proximate water source hook-ups available for the robots, and these must remain intact in cases of catastrophes such as earthquakes or tsunamis, for the limitation is not in a robot's dexterity but rather in the length of hose required and the mechanical power needed to pump all the water through it.
Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:40:14 pm
agrees with: comment#12
I was just watching some footage of fireman volunteers being pep-talked before going to work on the site. Appeals to bravery and sacrifice are often very effective to get humans to work for a period in unhealthy or even dangerous situations. As long as 'heroic' humans are willing to jeopardize themselves in sufficient numbers the need to use new methods and techniques that don't involve humans is lessened. Still, I agree that those in charge should be issuing those fireman water-cannon armed segue-bots, or at least attempting to make them available.
