Underwater Robots to Identify Threats

Underwater Robots

Underwater laser networking and imaging technologies are being created to quickly identify and monitor potential threats in dark coastal waters.

Once finished, the laser imaging networks will be placed onboard a team of small underwater robots to be used for US military operations to find mines and enhance the security of coastal waters and ports. Images of suspicious objects can be transmitted immediately to a command centre for analysis.

“Underwater mines pose a major threat to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and merchant fleets … using intelligent, adaptive laser imaging and communication techniques with swarms of co-operating underwater robots could provide identification-quality underwater imagery in real-time across much greater regions of seabed than current technology allows,” said Dr Fraser Dalgleish, principal investigator and assistant research professor at the Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University, USA.

Other uses include ecosystem monitoring and environmental assessment.

Underwater Robots

Robots | Global Robotics Industry Report for 2008

*The global robotics industry was worth $17.3 billion in 2008 and an estimated $17.6 billion in 2009. This should reach $21.4 billion in 2014, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0%.

*The industrial robots segment is the largest segment, worth $11.5 billion in 2008. This is expected to decrease slightly to $10.5 billion in 2009, and then grow at a CAGR of 2.8% to reach $12.1 billion in 2014.

*Professional service robots is the second largest segment, generating $3.3 billion in 2008. This should increase to $4.0 billion in 2009 and $5.4 billion in 2014, for a CAGR of 6.0%.

Robotics: Technologies and Global Markets views the robotics industry as presently divided into six types of robots defined by their application:

industrial robots
domestic service robots
professional robots
military robots
security robots and
space robots

Robotics: Technologies and Global Markets recognizes the European Union’s ambitious attempt to establish uncontested leadership in robotics, through the creation of the European Robotic Platform (EUROP) funded jointly by businesses and government. Along these lines, Chapter Three: Common Concerns addresses all of the technical issues identified by EUROP’s working groups. This chapter is equally useful to U.S. and Japanese companies interested in further developing sales in European markets.

Robotics: Technologies and Global Markets is the first study with product demand forecasts that reflect:

The collapse of capital funding for new robot purchases.
The collapse of consumer credit for the purchase of robot–made goods.
The World Bank’s downward adjustment of the gdp in India and China.
The effect of the 2009 U.S. economic stimulus package.