a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
1982 – RCV-150 Remote Controlled Vehicle System by Arthur B. Billet, principal engineer, Hydro Products, Inc., a Tetra Tech Co., wholly owned by Honeywell. Image Source: here. Technician checks out the RCV-150, Hydro Product's largest deep-diving robot vehicle, one of the increasing number of such remote-controlled devices that are rapidly replacing human divers for many …
Read More “1978-80 – RCV-150 ROV – Arthur B. Billet (American)”
1985 – Direct Link Prehensor (DLP) by John W. Jameson. The project stalled in 1986. Originally designed for astronaut hard suits, it was later licensed to Nuytco for its atmospheric diving systems, or ADS, particularly the then new Exosuit. The Prehensor is a manipulator that matches the dexterity of a gloved human hand. External ‘fingers’ …
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1981 – "Deep Rover" Submersible. See 7:10 into the Video. Top: Dr. Sylvia Earle. Bottom: Graham Hawkes. Extract from Popular Science, Dec 1984. An acrylic-bubble undersea habitat called Deep Rover will take oceanographers and oil-rig technicians to depths of 3,200 feet, where they'll work at sea-level pressure—in near-living-room comfort. The vessel "flies" like an underwater …
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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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TV eye for underwater work A new device for underwater inspection work is Anthro, a remotely controlled submersible with a 20-inch-diameter plastic bubble for a hull. A television display and propulsion controls-on board ship or on dry land-are connected to the vehicle by an umbilical. Anthro's TV camera is electronically "slaved" to the operator's head. …