Telerobotics blooms in fertile environment By R. Winn Hardin Government regulations, new applications, the dropping cost of optical sensors and devices, and the rising cost of human workers have all conspired to bring about a new age of telerobotic success. Today, politics and depleted terrestrial reserves are forcing petroleum companies to search farther and deeper offshore for oil deposits.
Nuclear plants survive under increased scrutiny, requiring more detailed safety inspections.
Cargo ships and tankers, living under intense regulations caused by the Exxon Valdez oil spill and other seagoing disasters, need more frequent hull inspections. Going deep Figure 1. Diving in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea beyond 180-m depth is virtually illegal. Divers can reach depths of greater than 1000 feet, but only during a saturation dive. Imetrix builds, leases, and sells underwater, teleoperated vehicles for hull inspection.