In Japan but reaching out to Turkey…

Posted by admin on Oct 23, 2011 at 10:14 pm America/Chicago

We got word about the Turkey earthquake from our medical lead, Eric Rasmussen,  while we were on the water deploying ROVs and an AUV in Minami Sanriku Cho today. The CNN site is sketchy but it looks like very challenging conditions- beside getting help to the site, the types of houses and the weather are tough on searching, on victims in the cold, and on rescuers. The International Rescue Systems Institute is looking at the availability of their caterpillar-like Active Scope Camera, the best robot I know of for penetrating extremely narrow voids. Small UAVs may be of use in understanding the situation and the civil engineering. I can't tell from the news about marine vehicles-- as one of the technologists here in Japan with me said: "I had no idea so much infrastructure is related to water!" Today, the city of Minami Sanriku is celebrating the opening of their port after the tsunami-- a great day and great progress in recovery. But a sad day for Turkey. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the responders.