Some cool robot action going on now

[HughMoran]

http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam

[DCBob]

1. Here's a link from CNN..

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream3&hpt=T2

Interesting. I have not seen this view before.

[HughMoran]

2. They just brought a fan in front of the camera to clean oil from the lens

crazy stuff

[DCBob]

5. Looks like these might be the main leaks at the BOP...

seems they may be getting ready to do their "top kill" thing.

[HughMoran]

10. I'd guess that. The inteface they were gripping was bubbling before, now it isn't

I'm an engineer, so this shit fascinates me.

[DCBob]

14. I'm not an engneer but it still fascinates me...

I hope they keep these cams running when they do the "kill".

[HughMoran]

16. now both arms are on pipe above said box I was talking about earleir

[DCBob]

21. Yeah, I see it now on the PBS feed.. they seem to very busy...

must be getting ready to do the big "kill"..

[HughMoran]

4. I wonder why CNN has a different view?

??

[HughMoran]

7. The government link has robot arms grabbing handles on something

they look like they're trying to pull the cover off, but oil keeps blowing by and obscuring the view

[DCBob]

8. really? I could not get that link to work...

odd there are different feeds..

[HughMoran]

12. Yeah, that was why I posted this

First real action I've seen in days - both arms were being manipulated to grab the handles on this box attached to a pipe.

[gateley]

13. Me either - I wonder how many cameras there are. nt

[Ex Lurker]

85. wow, I watched for a minute or two, but it's too nerve wracking

like watching brain surgery.

[Kablooie]

3. I'm watching on PBS web site.

[Blue Diadem]

6. I'm watching on the BP site. n/t

[Kablooie]

9. CNN site is boring. PBS has the cam that's on the robot.

[DCBob]

11. can you post the URL...

thanks.

[Kablooie]

15. Here's the pbs link

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/05/newshour-oil-widget-2-including-spillcam.html

[DCBob]

17. Thanks! I see it now...

Definitely a different feed from CNN.

[HughMoran]

19. Much cooler watching the arm try to hook that metal loop onto that lever

(or, that's what I see :) )

[marylanddem]

18. Thanks very much

I wonder what is going on.

[Duer 157099]

20. This is fascinating to watch. If only I knew what I was looking at

I see a robotic arm moving around trying to do something but have no clue what it's trying to do.

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. I wish Crow and Servo were providing commentary -nt

[HughMoran]

23. Check it out now

Gripping a bolt or pin with robot arm

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. IT IS fascinating, isn't it?

[HughMoran]

25. painstaking watching the bot try to align the hex t-wrench into the socket head screw

wow!

[HughMoran]

26. it's turning!

1 down, at least one more to go :D

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Damn missed that, was doing my ellyptical

yep, life in a way goes on

[HughMoran]

33. doing bolt #3 now

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Wow, now that is a gamer that is using his joystick or her joystick

for something productive.

[HughMoran]

45. joystick manipulation can be productive

;)

:rofl:

[HughMoran]

27. shit, there's gas in that there pipe

[flamingdem]

28. Thanks for the heads up on the action nt

[HughMoran]

29. bolt #2 here we come

[HughMoran]

30. got itt!! Off comes bolt #2 - oops, maybe not!

[Codeine]

31. Dude! That second one came off easily! nt

[Duer 157099]

34. Who knew watching screwing could be so utterly captivating? n/t

[HughMoran]

36. never screwed at 5000 feet before

:rofl:

[Codeine]

35. You can almost see the operator getting better. nt

[Duer 157099]

37. Righty tightie... n/t

[Duer 157099]

38. Ouch! Wanker just got pulled off n/t

[5X]

41. one robot arm is getting ready toscrew the other one. n/t

[HughMoran]

42. lol

[HughMoran]

39. Oh, shit, switching robot hands without dropping the tool!

[Duer 157099]

40. Looks like someone needed a bigger "tool" for this operation!

Why is this whole thing seeming so sexual to me? Is it just me?

[HughMoran]

44. 'Cause if they don't succeed, we're fucked?

Doh!!!

[likesmountains 52]

46. What are they trying to do? It's interesting to watch, but is there some plan in place

right now for what we're watching?

[Duer 157099]

48. Some sort of robot sex, far as I can tell n/t

[likesmountains 52]

50. So, when one of them lights up a cigarette we'll know it's all over?

[Duer 157099]

53. Or starts gushing some fluid...

I mean, *more* fluid...

[Duer 157099]

47. Zoom in close for the action... (cue the porn music) n/t

[5X]

49. they do have some cool robots, bet the gubment doen't have anything like this

[Duer 157099]

51. Just think: some day there will be a Nat'l Geographic Special

all about this and we'll finally understand what the hell we were watching today

[csziggy]

68. Nat Geo already has one about the explosion

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/gulf-oil-spill-5488/Overview
Rebroadcast next Thursday at 10PM Eastern

[HughMoran]

52. Looks like they're moving some sort ot anchor weight - oh, rock hammer!

:shrug:

[Duer 157099]

54. Time for the S&M portion of the show....

[5X]

56. did someone get pissed and start whacking it?

[HughMoran]

59. appears so

snicker

[HughMoran]

57. tugging on a cable now

;)

[likesmountains 52]

55. Who is controlling the robotics?

[Duer 157099]

58. Someone at a Chuck E Cheese I think

It just looks like a game to them

[HughMoran]

60. oil blackout!

this is frustrating!

[flamingdem]

61. Philipe Cousteau on CNN nt

[HughMoran]

63. they're back to screwing again

lol

[flamingdem]

64. That's hotter than Philipe! nt

[Duer 157099]

62. Not *that* hole!

I swear, I wish we had some real narration

[5X]

65. this is all taking place in someone's aquariaum, with an erector set.

[Duer 157099]

66. You know, after watching this for half an hour, I can see how this accident happened

I mean, seriously.

[likesmountains 52]

67. ok, I think they are just practicing or something now. Why screw/unscrew/screw the

same thing over and over?

[Duer 157099]

70. Maybe they're in a committed relationship n/t

[HughMoran]

71. They were alternately unscrewing the four bolts around that pipe sleve thingie

[likesmountains 52]

74. what are they trying to do?

[flamingdem]

69. robot action

[HughMoran]

72. that's exactly what it looks like!!11!!

:D

[Duer 157099]

73. Has anyone seen ole smokey lately?

Maybe after LOST, he's got a new gig now here

[kestrel91316]

75. What is this, "tie a yellow ribbon" time??

[flamingdem]

79. It's a ribbon cutting ceremony! nt

[HughMoran]

76. wow, they hung the weight on the cable

[Omar4Dems]

94. Gotta say...it IS well hung.

nt

[Duer 157099]

77. That was some kick ass knot tying right there!

But can't they get rid of those pieces of seaweed or whatever the hell it is?

[Codeine]

78. Does anybody know the purpose of this rope manipulation stuff? nt

[Duer 157099]

83. There's a weight on the end of that rope, it's being used for weight n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. That IS amazing...

that we humans can work in that kind of environment... yes, sci fi writers go there, regularly... but still...

[Duer 157099]

81. Kablooey!

[kestrel91316]

82. Oops. That didn't look good.

[Duer 157099]

84. WTF were they wasting all that time with the allen wrench

when they could just use the grip to unscrew it???

[HughMoran]

88. they had already loosened that other one

This one seemed to not loosen - not sure why they thought it was loose!

[HughMoran]

86. I knew they stripped this one - oops!

[Codeine]

87. Aww crap. nt

[HughMoran]

91. back for the allen wrench!

[flamingdem]

89. This might be a plus if this action is to increase the amount of dispersant nt

[Duer 157099]

90. Why do I feel like I'm watching 2001: A Space Odyssey? n/t

[kestrel91316]

93. I feel like I'm watching the Mars rovers, only sped up a little.

[Duer 157099]

92. Here comes "the tool" again...

[HughMoran]

95. This 'hand switching' operation is nerve wracking

Know what happens if they drop the wrench?

bye bye wrench!

[Duer 157099]

96. Yeah, that was just total showing off

and then I think he stripped it after handing it off cuz the hand turned it while the other hand was still holding the business end

[kestrel91316]

102. Yeah, you could see the metal shavings go flying when he did that.

Poor tool, he ruined it right there, ground the business end to dust.

[likesmountains 52]

97. do you think one person is operating each "hand" this really is amazing, too bad

it's so awful in context.

[HughMoran]

98. I have no idea

I just know I drop wrenches all the time when I'm working on my car

Yes, the context is awful, but it is part of the process and I'm enjoying it.

[Duer 157099]

99. So... in case anyone ever wants to do "telesurgery" on me

I think I'm going to politely decline.

[HughMoran]

100. I thought cynically, now it's time for a blast of oil to cloud the view

This is just like working on my car!

[HughMoran]

101. it's out - 4 of 4!

[HughMoran]

103. It seems to be coming out a tad

[Stardust]

104. Is there a spillcam website out there with live narration?(not that you all

aren't interesting, it's just that I'd like to hear voices.)

[HughMoran]

107. I think we're considered lucky to just have the live feed at this point

[Duer 157099]

105. One has to admire the sophistication of this setup

I mean, a rock tied to a rope, that's some mighty technical shit right there.

[Duer 157099]

106. I think they're changing the oil filter n/t

[HughMoran]

108. u funny

:rofl:

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. Ok my NON technical take on this

they are putting the thing ji mabobie on the thingie so they can try the top kill.

:-)

And I wish them success.

[flamingdem]

110. I think it's the dispersant they're fixing, the good stuff is going to happen in the AM

but I'm not sure ..

[HughMoran]

113. I think they need to get that thing off to attach a mud-line to

prep work for the top kill tomorrow.

[flamingdem]

111. I hear BP is thinking about doing a reality show based based on this

called DEEP DEEP HORIZON

[Duer 157099]

112. Well it will have to be on HBO or SHO with all the sex that's been going on

those dirty dirty drillers

[Duer 157099]

114. What if a body floated by?

I mean, what happened to the 11 who died? Were they recovered?

That would sort of dampen the fun we're having here watching.

[HughMoran]

115. .

:wow:

[flamingdem]

116. Or Anderson Cooper in his own ROV! nt

[Duer 157099]

118. LOL, that would be awesome if AC showed up down there!

Good one, lol

[HughMoran]

117. ET phone home

[Duer 157099]

119. So let's summarize

Rocks tied to rope, yellow nerf footballs--yep, we are in GOOD hands with this crew!

Couldn't be more confident.

:thumbsup:

[HughMoran]

120. The robots play football when they're not busy

:)

[NYC_SKP]

121. Just hope we don't hear, "Sorry, wrong hole!"

:hide:

Nite all, I'll be here all week.

:patriot:

[HughMoran]

122. lol

:spank:

[flamingdem]

123. Picture of the operator, it's a gestural interface very high tech y'know

[flamingdem]

125. Directions are transmitted by chandelier

[HughMoran]

124. I can't imagine how they determine thier orientation/location with such poor visibility

The 'oil storm' is constantly swirling and obliterating visibility.

[HughMoran]

126. Is it me, or does it look like oil is spewing from the pipe they just uncapped?

Did they mean to do that? Are they looking here to see if mud is escaping as part of the 'top kill'?