a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
1978 – "Mantis" Submersible. Sylvia Earle and Graham Hawkes. Mantis, built by OSEL, U.K., designed by Graham Hawkes is the latest [c1978] development in the tethered submarine field. It is fitted with eight or ten electric thrusters and has two seawater hydraulically operated manipulators. The Mantis was built in 1978 and has been used for …
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1989 – Shinkai 6500 Submersible. In Japanese, shinkai means deep sea. Aptly named, the Shinkai 6500 (ã—ã‚“ã‹ã„) is a manned research submersible that can dive up to a depth of 6,500 m. It was completed in 1989 and until 2012 it had the greatest depth range of any manned research vehicle in the world. The …
Model of the Shinkai 2000 showing a single manipulator with 6 degrees of freedom. "SHINKAI 2000" is the first manned deep submergence research vehicle in Japan, with a maximum operating depth of 2000 m and a weight of 23t. The Vehicle was designed and constructed in Kobe Shipyard and Engine Works, MHI and was delivered to …
MOB 1002 (Manipulation & Observation Bell 1002), built by Comex Industries, France, is a specially designed bell for underwater work. It has one manipulator with 6 degrees and one with 2 degrees of movement. It is also fitted with a lifting winch capable of lifting loads with a weight in water of up to 300 …
The Japanese Hakuyo Submersible was launched in 1971 and has one manipulator arm with five degrees of freedom. Image source: Manned Submersibles, Frank Bushby, 1976. See other early Underwater Robots here.