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Robots To Clear the Baltic Seafloor of WW-II Mines
An anonymous reader writes "A Russian company is building a massive natural gas pipeline that will run across the Baltic Sea floor. But first, they must clear some of the 150,000 unexploded bombs sitting at the bottom of the sea, left there by the Russian and German armies in the 1940s. About 70 of these mines, each filled with 300 kg of explosive charge, sit in the pipeline's path, mostly in its northern section just south of Finland. And so the company contracted to remove the mines is bringing in robots to do the dirty work. Here's how it will work: A research ship deploys the robot to the seabed, where it identifies the exact location of the explosive. After sounding a warning to surrounding ship traffic, scaring fish away using a small explosive, and then emitting a 'seal screamer' of high intensity noises designed to make the area around the blast quite uncomfortable for marine mammals, Bactec's engineers erupt a 5 kg blast, forcing the mine to detonate. This process ensures the safety of humans plus any animals living in the surrounding environment. The operation concludes with the robot being redeployed to clear up the scrap of the now-destroyed bomb."
once again, The Man keeping the metalman down by only giving him the shitty jobs!!!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
One day robots will use humans to dispose of mines...won't be so funny then...
There probably aren't a lot of plants that far down, but there would be lots of invertebrates. Poor invertebrates have all the bad luck. Perhaps one day they will learn the evolutionary advantage of being cute and furry.
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
I hope that around 2050 we'll take care of Afghanistan, once Rwanda is done around 2035.
What about the plants? and stuff that can't move away fast enough?
It's not like WWII happened yesterday. They had plenty of time to move away from the bombs. If they didn't that's their own damn fault for choosing to grow right near an old bomb! [/joke]
"Although this decision is by no means unanimous, the Human feel that the seafloorlacks the necessary characteristics to take upon this task on their own," said Prostetnic Human Smith, a captain with the fleet. "Demolition will begin soon."
"As the proper paperwork has already been appropriately filed, resistance is useless!" Smith added. "This detonation had been discussed for several decades and the plans were available in a nearby continent for review and/or complaint. We regret the loss of lives, but we can't be blamed if you won't take the trouble to get out and get involved in your neighborhood"
Or just farm out the job to PETA they seem to have that angle covered.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
So long and thanks, for all the fish....
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
"Dirty Jobs"... with Mike RoweBOT? (snare drum)
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
For a minute I read your post as this:
and I was going to vehemently disagree.
Eh, it's not as cool as you might think. I've found a screenshot of their software interface, looks pretty boring.
A warning to anyone tempted to google for the article's intriguing term "seal screamer": the google search result pointing to Urban Dictionary's entry for "screamin' seal"-- while interesting in its own right, and marginally related-- is likely not the same phenomenon.
HSJ$$*&#^!#+++ATH0
NO CARRIER
The cheapest, fastest, and safest way is to just blow them all up.
That's your solution to everything.
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
The way the internet is, all you have to do is say "I like toast" and someone from the Anti-Cruelty to Bread Society will come out of the woodwork to harass you.
Disconnect your television. Do your own research. Draw your own conclusions. They're probably lying. Don't be a sheep.
Damn your anti-dough-ism!
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Cui bono?
Fork it up, Israel.
Hey now, we could at least let them sign the treaty at some place fancy, like Versailles.