Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] x prize goes ocean

[vbra676539@aol.com]

You are probably right, sadly. The new crop of engineering and science students are flooded with junk and noise about the use of digital and remote systems, with a deep paucity of realtime, hands-on science. We have entered an information gathering phase that deals in terabytes of data to be used for statistical analysis. All good stuff, undeniably. The sad part is that all too many of these young minds have come to believe that remote data gathering and computer driven number crunching is more valuable than the adventure of going, doing and seeing.

At some stage, the sea will call them back. But they will have to learn it all over again. Bean counters are key players in the ocean business, but that doesn't mean people-in-the-sea is passe. Sliding an AUV over the stern and having it do its job and return successfully is a big challenge. But it ain't nearly the fun that going and doing it yourself. When the salinity and temperature and ph and current and turbidity measurements are taken, and the mapping is done, then maybe it will be time to reenter the fray, so to speak.

THEN we'll need the fleets of small subs. Or exo-suits, or whatever.

Vance

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Kubiak <dkubiak@hotmail.com>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Mon, Dec 27, 2010 5:24 am
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] x prize goes ocean

Who would go in the fleets of manned submersible vehicles that map the ocean floor or take copious temperature and salinity measurements?  Surface ships are readily available, but is the ocean surface covered with them?  I suspect this prize will encourage the development of robotics that can complete a lot of general mapping and measurements - maybe beefed up ocean gliders.
 

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To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] x prize goes ocean
From: vbra676539@aol.com
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:41:31 -0500

How about items #1 and #2? Improvement of technology to further ocean exploration. How about readily available, certifiable, reasonably priced and simple manned submersible vehicles.....lots of them.....fleets of them. It's time to get man back in the sea. Not robots.

-----Original Message-----
From: Emile van Essen <emile@airesearch.nl>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sun, Dec 26, 2010 9:03 am
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] x prize goes ocean

X price foundation ask for ideas for an ocean related x-price

 

http://www.xprize.org/future-x-prizes/exploration

 

I have some nice ideas. And you??

 

Regards, Emile