Robot sub aims for deepest ocean

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Robot sub aims for deepest ocean

 

By autonomous do they mean it will guide itself, and run it's own experiments, or is there still some level of human interface involved?

By human operated do they mean manned vessels, tethered? radio controlled?

... just curious

-Doug

 

Good questions.
I got the impression it was remote controlled.

 

I'm thinking it was occupied and captained by people. The notion of "human operated" would seem to infer this, as the alternative would not merit the distinction, or mention.

The only alternative to both unmanned and "human operated" would be having every aspect of the endeavor, from submersion, to exploration, to exit--100% automated. We've accomplished some feats in our years, but I don't think we're capable of that.

I've seen some programs on Discovery where scientists have gone down several thousands of feet in submarines where the entire cockpit is nearly a sphere of polycarbonate. The aquanauts were thrilled with the panorama, visibility and sense that they were almost "wet." Strikingly good stuff!!

 

It mentions a manned feat in 1960 ... to 35,000+ feet!

 

You couldn't pay me enough to go down that deep in a sub. Roger says he'd do it in a heartbeat but not me...nope nope nope.