NASA satellite image showing an oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico

A rescue squad has been dispatched to help contain an oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico, but this time it’s not the Planeteers – it’s robots.

Since the explosion of a BP oil rig off the coast of New Orleans last week, oil has been leaking underwater at a rate of about 42,000 gallons of oil per day. To combat this hazardous situation, BP and the U.S. Coast Guard have deployed a team of robotic submarines. The bots will functioning in a similar capacity to NASA’s Robotnaut 2 (using dexterous limbs to operate controls), and their goal is to close off the leaking oil well by activating a large valve.

Captain Planet would be proud.

U.S. Coast Guard photo of a robotic arm at work underwater

Want more robots? Be sure to check out our post on National Robotics Week.

Filed under: e-News, Mechanical, Ocean

Tags: Mechanical, Ocean, Robotics