University Beat: Japan Underwater Robots (May 9, 2011)

On Television

Dr. Eric Steimle of AEOS (and former USF researcher) examines the SARbot in Minami-Sanriku, Japan

Japan Underwater Robots

It’s the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in a way you’ve never seen before. Researchers from USF’s Center for Ocean Technology spent a week in the northern Japan, where they used underwater robots to assist authorities. University Beat on WUSF TV has their story, along with some of the incredible video and pictures from the scene.

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On the Radio

Researchers & Japanese Coast Guard work with a search robot in Rikuzen-takata, Japan.

Japan Underwater Robots

Researchers at USF's Center for Ocean Technology have returned to the States after a weeklong mission to Northern Japan. This week's University Beat on WUSF 89.7 tells you how the team used underwater robots to help search some of the areas damaged by the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

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Program Schedule

Radio - During "Morning Edition" on WUSF 89.7 Tuesday after the 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM newscasts | During "All Things Considered" on WUSF 89.7 Tuesday at 5:44 PM | After "Florida Matters" on WSMR 89.1 Friday at 7:30 PM
Television - Tuesdays at 11:55 AM and 8:55 PM, and various times throughout the rest of the week

Video extras

Dr. Robin Murphy, Director of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR) at Texas A&M University, talks about how the damage in Japan dwarves anything she saw during similar missions after hurricanes in the U.S. The former USF professor was previously profiled in this University Beat report.

Another former USF researcher, Dr. Eric Steimle, Program Manager for Applied Environmental & Ocean Sciences (AEOS), talks about how the remotely operated vehicles (ROV’s) are continuing to evolve.

Video of the AC-ROV underwater video camera and sensor platform as it scans the wreckage of a house in Rikuzentakata. (courtesy CRASAR & NSF)

Sonar image of a structure captured by a Sarbot vehicle in Minamisanriku. (courtesy CRASAR & NSF)

Video image of a structure captured by a Sarbot vehicle in Minamisanriku. (courtesy CRASAR & NSF)

Audio extras

Dr. Robin Murphy talks about her team's plan to return to Japan, as well as how cooperation with the International Rescue System Institute, Japan's equivalent to CRASAR, led to the trip to Japan.

For more information

Karen Dreger, Research Associate, USF Center for Ocean Technology
kdreger@mail.usf.edu

Dr. Robin Murphy, Director, Center for Robot-Assisted Search & Rescue (CRASAR), Texas A&M University
murphy@cse.tamu.edu

Dr. Eric Steimle, Program Manager, Applied Environmental & Ocean Sciences (AEOS
esteimle@aeosciences.com

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University Beat

University Beat is a radio and television program that focuses on the research and work at the University of South Florida and how it benefits the Tampa Bay area, Florida, and the world around us.