Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Sawfish Underwater Lumberjack Robot
Sawfish is a real-life robotic underwater lumberjack; it swims down to harvest trees that are now underwater due to flooding to create reservoirs.
(Sawfish underwater lumberjack robot)
The Triton Sawfish™ Underwater Harvester is the world's first viable marine technology for logging underwater forests. It is the only deep water logging machine. Piloted and powered remotely, it has eight video cameras as well as sonar to fully inform the remote operator.
(Sawfish harvester details)
Because water buoyancy helps, it can handle larger trees than land-based mechanical harvesters. It carries from 37-50 reusable inflatable bags to float trees to the surface for recovery and processing (one bag per tree). A 55" electric chain saw is used to perform the cutting.
The Sawfish even uses biodegradable vegetable oil for its hydraulic system. The Sawfish has received awards like Building Green's Top Ten Green Building Products, because it can reach this otherwise lost resource. It is estimated that there are over five billion linear board feet of usable timber submerged in British Columbia's lakes and reservoirs alone (that in turn being less than 5% of underwater lumber worldwide). It has also been certified by the Rainforest Alliance in its underwater logging/salvaging techniques.
Surprisingly, the wood harvested from underwater sources sells for a bit more than wood taken from dry land. That's because it is technically "old-growth timber" and is denser and more stable than the lumber from tree farms.
Underwater technology has made great strides; take a look at these prototypes:
- First Underwater Autonomous Vehicle To Cross Gulf Stream
The vehicle Spray has a potential range of up to 3,500 miles. - Squid Robot Underwater Inspector
This underwater robot has a completely unique biomimetic means of propulsion. - Sea-Eye Underwater Broadband Wireless Network
Transmits real-time video images underwater.
Read more about the Triton underwater harvester.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/6/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Engineering ")
3D Printing A 12-Meter Boat Hull
'It makes drawings in the air...' - Murray Leinster, 1945
China Still Working On Rescue Robot That Eats People
Firefighter Rescue Robot Eats Humans - again!
Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!' - Robert Sheckley, 1952.
Roborock Saros Z70 Is A Robot Vacuum With An Arm
'Anything larger than a BB shot it picked up and placed in a tray...' - Robert Heinlein, 1956.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
3D Printing A 12-Meter Boat Hull
'It makes drawings in the air...'
China Still Working On Rescue Robot That Eats People
Firefighter Rescue Robot Eats Humans - again!
Lawyer AIs Create Chaos In Our Legal System
'I want my lawyer program.'
Chinese Hospital Tries Vonnegut's 'Harrison Bergeron' Cosplay
'He wore spectacles with thick wavy lenses. The spectacles were intended to make him not only half
blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.'
Robot Clerks Become A Reality In China
'The robot clerk in the waiting-room checked her number...'
Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
Boring Company Drills Asimov's Single Vehicle Tunnels
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
A Remarkable Coincidence
'There is a philosophical problem of some difficulty here...'
Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
Perching Ambush Drones
'On the chest of drawers something was perched.'
Leader-Follower Autonomous Vehicle Technology
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
Boring Company Vegas Loop Like Asimov Said
'There was a wall ahead... It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
