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James Cameron and Eric Schmidt's SOI Grieve Loss of Nereus ROV
theodp (442580) writes "Wealthy guys love extreme submarines, observed Billionaire in 2012. And the Washington Post reported that deep sea exploration is getting to be a rich man's game in 2013. The NY Times also covered the privatization of American science earlier this year. So, it's not too surprising to see the [Google Chair Eric] Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) post filmmaker James Cameron's eulogy-of-sorts for the loss of the Nereus ROV, the hybrid remotely operated vehicle that's believed to have imploded under 16,000 PSI of pressure at a depth of 9,990 meters as it explored the Kermadec Trench. 'I feel like I've lost a friend,' wrote Cameron. 'I always dreamed of making a joint dive with Nereus and [Cameron's] Deepsea Challenger at hadal depth.' Also feeling Cameron's pain is SOI, which used the Nereus to explore the Mid-Cayman Rise in 2013 and had plans to use the $6 million HROV again to explore the Mariana Trench in two missions later this year. SOI is currently working with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to build the world's most advanced deep-diving robotic vehicle for use on SOI's ship R/V Falkor, which Wendy Schmidt indicated provides ship time that enables researchers to tap into available funding."
6.21 miles deep, that's impressive.
_ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
back up on land, people in other parts of the world are starving...
And you haven't donated any of your money to help them, have you?
"First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
Why does this posting reek of a PR person's assignment? Has /. sunk that low?
How many miles can THEY go under the sea.
Besides, they are generally starving because leaders of their land are on a power trip. Not playing with subs is going to help them not at all; sending more aid just means another gold plated limo for the king.
I'd rather have the submersible exist, thanks.
Then the initials would have been "S.O.L."
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
"Mr Schmidt played in a key role in the re-election of President Barack Obama last month, helping to oversee Google's $700,000 donation to his campaign."
Link
Relax. Either he discovers something for science or he eventually removes himself from the gene pool.
It's just so win-win...
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Underwater robotics is all about advancing the state of the art. A machine that lived six years was reaching obsolescence. I'm sure that the boys in the back room will have fun building its successor. (I have helped to build a few underwater robots for competitions, and it's always a joy to start work on the next one.)
The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
“For better or worse,” said Steven A. Edwards, a policy analyst at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, “the practice of science in the 21st century is becoming shaped less by national priorities or by peer-review groups and more by the particular preferences of individuals with huge amounts of money.”
Coz, like, science has never relied on rich benefactors before. Hint: Before government-funded science it was rich benefactors that provided residence, food and money for artisans and scientists.
it is a waste of good equipment since MH370 was probably landed at Diego Garcia
6 million to a billionaire is like me losing a $50 Toy RC Helicopter. Only I don't whine about it as much, or milk it for all the PR I can get.
I'm glad the summary defined SOI as I wasn't sure how Eric Schmidt was related to Silicon On Insulator technology other than the chips Google's servers run on employ the tech.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Sure, for developers it's fun and exciting to build a new vessel with the latest and greatest technology. For a scientist, it's great to have access to a vessel at all. Maybe it won't have stuff developed in the last 8 years or so, but even being able to up to 8km down safely and having a plethora of sensors and fishing equipment available is more than most deep see researchers will get access to in the next five years, probably more. Obsolescence? Not by far, people would be queueing up to use it for the next decade at least.
I was promised a flying car. Where is my flying car?
Allow me to refer you to this infographic.
Did you just claim that "All republicans stereotype?" It should be clear that I align myself with neither party, as their views increasingly diverge from that of the average American.
A few hours? Used to make more than minimum wage (in canada[sigh, higher than US if you're really clueless]) in 15 minutes or under over 20 years ago!
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
Underwater robotics is all about advancing the state of the art.
That may be true but the primary aim here is marine research, better robotics is a secondary consideration and besides we already know a 10 km high water column can turn a sub into a cigarette box in the blink of an eye, and it only takes a microscopic imperfection in the hull to trigger such an event.
When we are talking about very expensive research tools "Obsolete" does not mean useless, we are talking about a sub that can (almost) reach 10km down. I can only think of two other subs that have reached that depth and resurfaced in one piece on their maiden voyage. For example, the Woods hole institute has another sub called Alvin that can reach 4.5 km and has been in use since 1965, to date it has transported over 8000 researchers into the abyss, it has told us more about "what's down there" than all the others combined. If anyone wants to know what it found and what it's like diving to that extreme depth, there's an interesting book written by Alvin's only female pilot, well worth a read. I highly recommend all slashdotter's buy a copy for their (12 and up) grand_daughter(s), daughter(s), niece(s), ect.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
Wealthy guys love extreme submarines
...because jets are so 20th century, no-one will take you seriously.
Isn't $6 million small change for Schmidt and Cameron? couldn't they just check out the loose change down the back of the armchair/ in their car's ashtray and pay for a new (and better one)? I am sure several US universities would be more than happy to have one of these folks offer to buy a new submarine for them on the agreement that said donor gets a certain amount of access to it.
Surely this is small change for these folks (and they are canny enough to work out how to make money out of the donation, e.g. by making a film about it).
It's really sad that in our society a begger can make more in an hour than a trained chef serving you a $40 steak.
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
Only a lunatic would risk violating the Benthic Treaty. Giving Blue Hades a casus belli would be a really, REALLY bad idea.
Riiiiiiiiiight.. "implosion". More like someone was poking around into territories - specifically outlined as forbidden - in the 1953 Benthic Treaty of Azores with BLUE HADES and got their expensive little toy slapped.
Try and not get us wiped out there Cameron.. thanks.