Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: corrado33 on May 31, 2010, 07:28:22 PM

Title: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: corrado33 on May 31, 2010, 07:28:22 PM
Hey guys, I didn't really search for a thread about this, but I figured you'd be interested.

They have a live feed from the BP oil spill in the gulf of mexico.  While the leak is depressing, it is cool to see the little robot work.  He uses a 2 bar gripper on one arm, and a hand that looks mighty similar to admin's three fingered design featured in a vid somewhere on this site. 

Here's the feed.

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html (http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html)
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on May 31, 2010, 09:04:15 PM
Man, BP is really paying for this spill . . . they have like a half dozen ROVs down there. A typically ROV costs $100k each, and a full support crew + ship is like another $50k-$100k per day . . . I estimate a half-million a week for in-field expenses :o
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: chelmi on May 31, 2010, 09:08:04 PM
Man, BP is really paying for this spill . . . they have like a half dozen ROVs down there. A typically ROV costs $100k each, and a full support crew + ship is like another $50k-$100k per day . . . I estimate a half-million a week for in-field expenses :o

It's not even close to the damage they've done...
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on May 31, 2010, 09:15:56 PM
Man, BP is really paying for this spill . . . they have like a half dozen ROVs down there. A typically ROV costs $100k each, and a full support crew + ship is like another $50k-$100k per day . . . I estimate a half-million a week for in-field expenses :o

It's not even close to the damage they've done...
Well, its not including the lawyers they are now and will pay for, the clean-up expenses, the payouts they promised to the local fisheries, the management expenses, the loss of all the equipment, etc.

After the smoke clears, and billions were already spent/lost, thats when the government fines/punishments roll in.

(BP stock owners are probably crying themselves to sleep)


edit: fixed small typo
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: z.s.tar.gz on June 01, 2010, 08:23:08 AM
Hopefully this will push alternative energy sources up in the market.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Xyver on June 03, 2010, 11:32:22 PM
They've already spent a billion dollars, it the cost just keeps rising
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: arixrobotics on June 05, 2010, 08:43:31 PM
I work in the oil & gas industry, and I tell you, one billion dollar is not a huge damage for such companies like BP... the real damage is to the environment and their reputation...
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: SmAsH on June 05, 2010, 09:57:48 PM
Haha, was watching the live feed and there was a worker who couldn't get a fence clipped together for about 10 mins and was raging!
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: pomprocker on June 05, 2010, 10:03:18 PM
BP has also spent millions on ads to keep up their image
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on June 06, 2010, 12:13:47 AM
I work in the oil & gas industry, and I tell you, one billion dollar is not a huge damage for such companies like BP... the real damage is to the environment and their reputation...
A few days ago BP stock dropped 13% . . . thats a lot of money . . .
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Asellith on June 10, 2010, 09:43:44 AM
right after graduation I applied for a job running and maintaining one of those rovers. I'm kinda glad I didn't get it but right now those guys are killing themselves with OT.

I think they should fix the leak the Russian way. nuke the hole shut and start over.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: MangoBot on June 10, 2010, 11:19:13 AM
I like the Nuke idea, some dirty little robot must have had something to do with this, i'm telling you all, the robot apocalypse is coming . Just look at terminator and iRobot. But more seriously, this sucks for everyone down there and the environment and stuff
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Asellith on June 10, 2010, 11:35:15 AM
I live in Pensacola and its a comin to us here soon. Good thing I hate the beach. But it will hurt us a lot because our two major industries are done for. Fishing and Tourism. I work in radio and don't like fish so not much of an affect on me. Except my favorite sushi place might have trouble... That will be sad.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: madsci1016 on June 10, 2010, 01:49:06 PM
Asellith,

I live in Panama City Beach, so we will be next after you, and I'm not looking forward to it. There's already talk of canceled Sea Tests at my base.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Asellith on June 10, 2010, 04:16:10 PM
Wow someone else whose into robotics that live within 200 miles of the armpit of the US the call the florida panhandle! Now all we need is someone who lives in niceville or crestview and we can plan build days or something.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: monsieurpo on June 10, 2010, 06:20:34 PM
people should stop using oil and gaz all should working with battery or electricity
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: madsci1016 on June 10, 2010, 07:07:36 PM
@Asellith
True, we need more hobbyist around here.

Come to PCB some time and i'll show you the robots I get to play with at work (I am an engineer at the Navy base here).

@monsieurpo

Where does the electricity to charge the battery come from?

 The correct statement is "humanity should put more effort in renewable energy sources".
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: z.s.tar.gz on June 11, 2010, 11:30:54 AM
The correct phrase is "We need to develop solar energy further."
The amount of energy being wasted from the sun is mind blowing.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: madsci1016 on June 11, 2010, 12:23:39 PM
Don't limit yourself to solar. There are many more viable renewable energy sources.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: dellagd on June 11, 2010, 06:23:25 PM
The correct phrase is "We need to develop solar energy further."
The amount of energy being wasted from the sun is mind blowing.

It really is.

We use a mere fraction of the suns energy that even hits us! Solar is the ultimate energy source, because it will never run out! (well it least for a LONG while)

Also, we  don't even have to use panels, as there are many other ways to capture the suns energy. Wind is good to, but not as reliable.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: TK on June 11, 2010, 06:43:54 PM
Also, we  don't even have to use panels, as there are many other ways to capture the suns energy. Wind is good to, but not as reliable.

Around where I live people are actually complaining and trying to stop them from building wind farms and such because they are ugly, noisy and take a lot of space.  When I say noisy I mean they make this odd buzzing noise that can be very annoying

I also agree with the fact that they should increase solar energy production but I do think there will always be a need for gas, oil and diesel ex) farmers, construction workers
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on June 11, 2010, 07:13:35 PM
Quote
Solar is the ultimate energy source, because it will never run out! (well it least for a LONG while)
Yea, but the materials needed to build solar panels are considered rare, and *will* run out. :P

http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199703110 (http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199703110)
http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ibm-creates-efficient-solar-cell-using-abundant-materials-20100210/ (http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ibm-creates-efficient-solar-cell-using-abundant-materials-20100210/)

There is another source of "free energy", and thats boosting energy efficiency. A single 1% efficiency increase in the world is like 200+ power plants no longer needed.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: TK on June 11, 2010, 07:41:42 PM
Im sure eventually over time they will find new materials though
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Webbot on June 11, 2010, 07:55:24 PM
Tidal power is good - and getting more efficient.

Hopefully we wont run out of 'pull from the moon' - or at least if we do then we will all be floating upwards until we go pop


Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: madsci1016 on June 11, 2010, 08:04:41 PM
Solar Panel production is also very wasteful and polluting. It takes many gallons of caustic chemicals to produce the silicon wafers.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Asellith on June 14, 2010, 09:21:32 AM
We should put more money into nuclear. Who needs solar power can you can make a sun in a bottle :) That and when they miniaturize one enough we can build giant robots (Battlemechs!)
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: madsci1016 on June 14, 2010, 09:44:19 AM
Nuclear can be dangerous as well. But a Solar panel is never going to explode.

Also, where do we put all the nuclear waste?
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on June 14, 2010, 10:19:12 AM
Nuclear can be dangerous as well. But a Solar panel is never going to explode.

Also, where do we put all the nuclear waste?
In addition, its said the worlds nuclear fission fuel supply will last about as long as the worlds coal supply - about 50+ more years given current trends.

Cold fusion is our only real hope . . . either that or we replace humans with much more energy efficient robots . . .
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: little-c on June 14, 2010, 02:48:23 PM
do you have a quote on that?

intrestingly enough, 50 years is enough time to implement projects to start stealing materials from other planets in the solar system. it would be easy to send robots, as they don't need any atmosphere. and can be programed to scale up by self replecation. i.e, robots building the bases and more robots for specific tasks.

to make such an endevor possible, materials and robots could be sent into orbit to construct spacecraft to carry more materials than would be possible on a conventional shuttle. 

as for enviromentaly minded people, uninhabited irradited rocks with no atmosphere can hardly get any more contaminated ;)


and Im off to write an essay.  ::)
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: Admin on June 14, 2010, 03:21:44 PM
do you have a quote on that?
This says 40 years for oil, 150 for coal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption)
and more details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves)
This site says 80 years for nuclear fuel:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf75.html (http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf75.html)

If you browse around, you'll see large range of estimates.

This is of course given current consumption rates and current technologies. As the fuels become rare, prices will soar, dramatically reducing consumption rates.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: random robots on June 15, 2010, 12:44:10 PM
ive heard somewhere that half or so of our oil and coal is used for energy.
Title: Re: Oil spill in the gulf...
Post by: dellagd on June 16, 2010, 07:14:31 PM
Quote
Solar is the ultimate energy source, because it will never run out! (well it least for a LONG while)
Yea, but the materials needed to build solar panels are considered rare, and *will* run out. :P

http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199703110 (http://www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199703110)
http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ibm-creates-efficient-solar-cell-using-abundant-materials-20100210/ (http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/ibm-creates-efficient-solar-cell-using-abundant-materials-20100210/)

There is another source of "free energy", and thats boosting energy efficiency. A single 1% efficiency increase in the world is like 200+ power plants no longer needed.

Quote
Also, we  don't even have to use panels, as there are many other ways to capture the suns energy. Wind is good to, but not as reliable.

Did you catch that part?   :o

We can capture the suns energy in many other ways, like focusing it onto a cylinder of boiling salt. I personally think we wont run out of materials for mirrors soon (you start with sand for glass and the shiny, reflective part is just a regular metal like tin or something correct?) there are also a lot of other reflectives that can focus light as well.

I said "don't even have to use solar panels" for that reason Admin.