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Robots To Control Oil Drilling Platforms

Posted by timothy on from the nothing-can-go-wrong-can-go-wrong-can-go-wrong dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "In 2015, and if everything goes well, oil drilling platforms located offshore Norway will be controlled by robots. Even today, these platforms don't use many people. But the idea behind the new platform concept is to install large modular process sections in unmanned areas to allow access by one or more robotic manipulators. In a few years, operators should be able to remain on land and to remotely control the oil drilling platforms. Obviously, this should reduce risks and costs. Tests have already started in a new laboratory in Trondheim. According to the plans, the researchers have 8 years in front of them to deliver the robotic tools able to control these very expensive platforms. But read more for additional references and pictures."

6 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Reduce risks? Kinda sorta. by fname · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It reduces risk to the human crew operating the platform. But if something goes wrong on the rig, I think that the risk of a minor accident turning into a major problem is much larger. What if there's a fire? Damaged by a passing ship? Sabotaged? With no human crew on board, the ability to improvise and solve new problems is seriously hampered.

  2. Re:Peak oil by CodeBuster · · Score: 3, Insightful

    On the bright side, oil will be at least a 1000 dollars a barrel. No doubt you are backing that up by locking in some "low" prices on long term oil futures contracts with your own money right? I mean, who wouldn't want to act on such valuable information if they were privy to a "sure thing" in the commodities markets?
  3. Re:And what about... by hyfe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    terrorists
    If you want to protect against a boat filled up with explosives, you need an army. Not security guards.

    Either way, I'm about as scared of terrorists as I am of the roving angry bands of pedophiles that roam the countryside. There's no global conspiracy; every single terrorists attack has had very real and very local causes. In my humble opinion the 'too much generalization is as dangerous as too little' proverb is as apt for understanding society as it is for programming.

    --
    "" How about taking the safety labels off everything, and let the stupidity-problem solve itself? """
  4. Re:Why are frieghters still manned? by don+depresor · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You know these guys are some of the best paid non-executive people in the world, Right?
    And that nobody forces them to do it, Right?

    Making their job illegal would only piss them and make some silly holier-than-thou people more happy because the world would be a better place (tm)

    And while you're at it, why not forbid people making other dangerous things, like... you know being cops or soldiers.

  5. Re:And what about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm more afraid of what happens when a crazy US president decides that Norway would be a great place to steal oil ;-)

  6. Re:Why are frieghters still manned? by Comatose51 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    While we value lives, we also value the power and freedom to live our lives as we choose. Paternalism is condescending and degrading.

    --
    EvilCON - Made Famous by /.