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Where Humans Can't Go

Posted June 19, 2010 7:02 AM

Attempts to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico have involved robots working 5,000 ft below the surface of the ocean. At U.C. Berkeley, researchers are working on a cockroach-like robot that can locate victims in the midst of unstable, tightly-packed rubble. As a society, are we ready to rely on robots to cope with disasters — to send them where humans can't go?

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#1

Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/19/2010 7:36 AM

" As a society, are we ready to rely on robots to cope with disasters — to send them where humans can't go?"

Well, if humans can't go there, why not send something that can?

What's the alternative; not send something in?

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#2
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Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/20/2010 3:42 AM

Yeah, where's superman when you need him?
Del

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#3
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Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/20/2010 7:42 AM

Golfing, according to the tabloids.

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#4
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Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/20/2010 6:12 PM

I am still surprised at how poorly thought out many of these blog article questions are.

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Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/20/2010 8:58 PM

The intent is to make people think, perhaps out of the box. However, if you get far enough out of the box you realize the theater is many times nothing more than a circus with a number of clowns.

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#7
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Where Brains Can't Go

06/25/2010 3:29 PM

all part of the package

gotta have a question for the bottom right corner of each & every newsletter....

we are the entertainment portion of the program

so quick, say something smart

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#5

Re: Where Humans Can't Go

06/20/2010 6:30 PM

I suspect that a major part of the reason why attempt after attempt to plug this thing has failed is because there is no way to put human minds on station. Robots may be wonderful for some things, but there is no substitute for human hands and human judgment at the point of attack.

If we are going to continue to be forced to drill in such deep locations, then new techniques for ultra-deep diving must be developed. Hyper-oxygenated liquid systems show some promise but are not without difficulties. Furthermore, diving suits such as the Navy's ADS2000 already allow a diver to work in a shirtsleeve environment at 2000 feet, and further developments are certain to follow. Perhaps a combination of the dive suit and saturation techniques, such as pressurizing the suit to allow work at much greater depths?

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