CENTERFOLD SUMMARY

 

Marine Structure Inspection Using Autonomous Underwater Robots

 

 

Increased security concerns in the commercial shipping and naval communities have recently brought attention to the problem of inspecting marine structures. The inspection environment is dangerous for humans due to cluttered spaces and poor visibility in many ports.  A novel robot developed by MIT in collaboration with Bluefin Robotics has completed a number of sea trials, confirming robust 100% coverage and acoustic-based imaging.  Operations are enhanced by on-line map-building and map-based navigation, because conventional absolute positioning systems are sometimes not available.  Operations are also enhanced by biomimetic vehicle design, which can achieve impressive maneuvering that is advantageous in shallow, energetic, and cluttered waters.  This talk will describe the vehicles developed for this application and our strategies for control and navigation, and give an overview of results we have achieved.  A tour of the MIT Testing Tank will follow. 

 

 

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MAIN ARTICLE

 

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Central New England Chapter

 

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

 

At the

MIT Sloan Laboratory (Building 35), Room 35-225

127 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA

 

Doors open: 6:00 PM

Presentation: 6:30 PM

Testing Tank tour: 7:15 PM

 

Marine Structure Inspection Using Autonomous Underwater Robots

 

Presented by

 

Franz S. Hover

Assistant Professor

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA 02139

 

Increased security concerns in the commercial shipping and naval communities have recently brought attention to the problem of inspecting marine structures. The inspection environment is dangerous for humans due to cluttered spaces and poor visibility in many ports.  A novel robot developed by MIT in collaboration with Bluefin Robotics has completed a number of sea trials, confirming robust 100% coverage and acoustic-based imaging.  Operations are enhanced by on-line map-building and map-based navigation, because conventional absolute positioning systems are sometimes not available.  Operations are also enhanced by biomimetic vehicle design, which can achieve impressive maneuvering that is advantageous in shallow, energetic, and cluttered waters.  This talk will describe the vehicles developed for this application and our strategies for control and navigation, and give an overview of results we have achieved.  A tour of the MIT Testing Tank will follow. 

 

MEETING INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS

 

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society will meet at the MIT Sloan Laboratory (Building 35), Room 35-225, 127 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, for an informal discussion at 6:00 PM, the presentation at 6:30 and a tour of the MIT Testing Tank at 7:15.

 

The MIT Sloan Laboratory (Building 35) is at the corner of Vassar St. and Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. You can find the building on the MIT campus map: http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?mapterms=35&mapsearch=go

After the meeting, at approximately 8:00 PM, the group will have a no-host dinner at Legal Seafood, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA (phone 617.864.3400), at the corner of Ames and Main Streets.

 

The meetings are open to the general public, and all are welcome at the dinner afterwards. For more information on IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, please contact Chapter Chair Peter Meyer at (781) 334-0052 or chair@robotics-boston.org or visit http://www.robotics-boston.org/