Menu
30/05/2005
‘Robots’ to be used to track sea mines
A fleet of high-tech unmanned underwater ‘robots’ are to be used by the Royal Navy in order to help track down deadly sea mines.
It will be the first time the Royal Navy has had an unmanned underwater vehicle capable of detecting shallow water mines. The job was traditionally carried out by naval divers.
The Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) are battery-powered vehicles, which will scan the seabed, in depths of up to 100m deep, in order to ensure that there are no underwater mines, which could destroy ships and landing crafts. The vehicles, which are 1.6 m long and torpedo-shaped, use advanced detectors to pin-point the location of mines, before returning to their naval handlers for the raw data to be collected and evaluated.
However, the REMUS robots cannot clear the mines they discover – that task will still need to be conducted by trained naval divers.
Ten of these vehicles will be purchased by the Defence Procurement Agency under a £2.75 million programme and they will enter service early next year.
Sea mines are a deadly threat to naval forces, because they are relatively cheap and easy to plant and are often difficult to detect.
Commenting on the REMUS robots, Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson said: “REMUS will give the Royal Navy the ability to undertake rapid mine reconnaissance in very shallow water – cold and dangerous work in an area, which up until now, could only be done by divers.”
Lord Drayson said that the REMUS robots would help reduce the risk to divers during mine detection operations, as well as help the Royal Navy to undertake other tasks, including supporting search and salavage operations to help protect British ports and harbours from potential terrorist attacks.
The REMUS vehicles, manufactured by Hydroid Inc, are expected to stay in service until 2011, and are part of an ongoing initiative by the Ministry of Defence to introduce unmanned equipment to undertake hazardous tasks.
(KMcA/SP)
It will be the first time the Royal Navy has had an unmanned underwater vehicle capable of detecting shallow water mines. The job was traditionally carried out by naval divers.
The Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) are battery-powered vehicles, which will scan the seabed, in depths of up to 100m deep, in order to ensure that there are no underwater mines, which could destroy ships and landing crafts. The vehicles, which are 1.6 m long and torpedo-shaped, use advanced detectors to pin-point the location of mines, before returning to their naval handlers for the raw data to be collected and evaluated.
However, the REMUS robots cannot clear the mines they discover – that task will still need to be conducted by trained naval divers.
Ten of these vehicles will be purchased by the Defence Procurement Agency under a £2.75 million programme and they will enter service early next year.
Sea mines are a deadly threat to naval forces, because they are relatively cheap and easy to plant and are often difficult to detect.
Commenting on the REMUS robots, Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson said: “REMUS will give the Royal Navy the ability to undertake rapid mine reconnaissance in very shallow water – cold and dangerous work in an area, which up until now, could only be done by divers.”
Lord Drayson said that the REMUS robots would help reduce the risk to divers during mine detection operations, as well as help the Royal Navy to undertake other tasks, including supporting search and salavage operations to help protect British ports and harbours from potential terrorist attacks.
The REMUS vehicles, manufactured by Hydroid Inc, are expected to stay in service until 2011, and are part of an ongoing initiative by the Ministry of Defence to introduce unmanned equipment to undertake hazardous tasks.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 March 2015
Two Mines To Close With Loss Of Up To 1,300 Jobs
Two deep coal mines in Yorkshire have been refused government funding and will be closed with the loss of up to 1,300 jobs, UK Coal has announced. UK Coal had applied for funding in an effort to keep the Kellingley pit in North Yorkshire and the Thoresby pit in north Nottinghamshire open for another three years.
Two Mines To Close With Loss Of Up To 1,300 Jobs
Two deep coal mines in Yorkshire have been refused government funding and will be closed with the loss of up to 1,300 jobs, UK Coal has announced. UK Coal had applied for funding in an effort to keep the Kellingley pit in North Yorkshire and the Thoresby pit in north Nottinghamshire open for another three years.
18 September 2009
Stamps Mark Naval Heritages
Weapons Engineer, Sandy Jardine - pictured on HMS Daring - the Royal Navy's newest, most powerful destroyer, lent a hand to launch Royal Mail's Royal Navy Uniforms Special Stamps. He was helping out as Royal Mail charted over two centuries of Royal Navy uniforms on six new stamps just issued.
Stamps Mark Naval Heritages
Weapons Engineer, Sandy Jardine - pictured on HMS Daring - the Royal Navy's newest, most powerful destroyer, lent a hand to launch Royal Mail's Royal Navy Uniforms Special Stamps. He was helping out as Royal Mail charted over two centuries of Royal Navy uniforms on six new stamps just issued.
10 April 2014
1,300 Jobs Threatened At Pit Closure
Two deep mines in North Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are set to close next year. Some 1,300 jobs are now under threat as a result of the announcement. UK Coal plans to close the pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire, and Thoresby, Nottinghamshire, and it is understood the government is to loan UK Coal £10m for "managed closure".
1,300 Jobs Threatened At Pit Closure
Two deep mines in North Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are set to close next year. Some 1,300 jobs are now under threat as a result of the announcement. UK Coal plans to close the pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire, and Thoresby, Nottinghamshire, and it is understood the government is to loan UK Coal £10m for "managed closure".
16 September 2011
One Of Four Trapped Miners Found Dead
One of the four trapped minors, stranded in a flooded mine in Swansea, has been found dead. The men have been trapped in the flooded Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe for over 24 hours, as rescuers continue their attempts to reach the men.
One Of Four Trapped Miners Found Dead
One of the four trapped minors, stranded in a flooded mine in Swansea, has been found dead. The men have been trapped in the flooded Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe for over 24 hours, as rescuers continue their attempts to reach the men.
29 July 2004
Government makes greenhouse gasses pledge as 'summer smog' hits England
The UK has today joined a US-led partnership that seeks to cut global methane gas emissions - on the day that the south east of England was warned to take precautions over the summer's first ozone smog.
Government makes greenhouse gasses pledge as 'summer smog' hits England
The UK has today joined a US-led partnership that seeks to cut global methane gas emissions - on the day that the south east of England was warned to take precautions over the summer's first ozone smog.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
