Robot Teams Practice for Japan Volcano Monitoring

Robot Teams Practice for Japan Volcano MonitoringBy Evan Ackerman

Posted 14 Oct 2014 | 14:30 GMT

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Image: Tohoku University/YouTube

When Mount Ontake erupted in Japan a few weeks ago, it was completely unexpected. No significant earthquakes, no steam or gas releases, nothing. Usually, some warning does exist, and the best that we can to is to monitor active volcanoes as carefully as we can to try and spot whatever warning signs that are there. This is especially problematic with volcanoes that are undergoing frequent periods of activity, where it’s not safe to get close to them to determine when a minor eruption might turn into a major one. Not safe, you say? There’s a solution for that: send in the robots.

Keiji Nagatani, a professor at Tohoku University in Japan, has spent the last half decade developing robotic systems for volcano exploration. For the last few years, he’s been working on ways of exploring remote, potentially dangerous volcanic areas using UAVs in collaboration with ground robots. Here’s a video from a test last month on Japan’s Mount Asama:

The ground robot is called Clover, and the UAV is called Zion. The robots were controlled over a 3G connection from about 3 kilometers away. Since 3G can be unreliable and is vulnerable to terrain-induced blind spots, the researchers have developed a system to use more conveniently placed robots as signal relays. 

Clover robots could be equipped with small sensor packages, like a gas sensor, but it’s also important to be able to analyze rock samples directly. Strawberry is a robotic claw that hangs from the bottom of Zion and can be used to collect rocks or soil or stuffed alien toys or whatever else a claw dangling from the sky is good for picking up. If you watch closely, in addition to a claw device, there’s also an actuated roller that helps to scoop up smaller rocks and dust:

As far as I’ve been able to tell, none of these robots have yet been tested on an active volcano, but hopefully the Japanese researchers are getting close to doing that. Because one thing we’ve learned from previous disasters is that robots can be a huge help, so the more we test and improve them under real-world conditions, the better they’ll be when we really need them. 

Stunning Mosaic Floor Revealed in Amphipolis Tomb

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Archaeologists have publicized photos of a stunning mosaic floor recently excavated within the ancient tomb of Amphipolis in northern Greece.

According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, the beautiful mosaic was discovered in the second chamber of the tomb, the site of the Caryatids‘ discovery. The colorful floor was laid with white, black, grey, blue, red and yellow pebbles and depicts a chariot in motion. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is pictured in front of the chariot.

“The central theme is a chariot in motion, pulled by two white horses and driven by a bearded man, crowned with a laurel wreath,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The mosaic showcases the artist’s ability to portray the figures, horses and colors in exquisite detail.
According to a Culture Ministry announcement, Hermes is depicted here as the conductor of souls to the afterlife.

The stunning artwork, which has yet to be fully uncovered, spans the entire floor of the second chamber. It currently measures 4.5 meters in width and 3 meters in length. The central scene is surrounded by a decorative frame, 0.60 meters in width, featuring a double meander, squares and a wave-curl design.

According to archaeologists, a section of the mosaic floor has been destroyed. The Amphipolis team was able to recover the disturbed pebbles during the excavation process, however, and plans on being able to eventually piece the mosaic back together.

The ministry says that archaeologists have dated the mosaic to the last quarter of 4th century B.C. (325-300 B.C.), consistent with their belief the grave contains the remains of a contemporary of Alexander the Great, the ancient Greek King of Macedonia, who conquered the Persian Empire and reached present-day India, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in a whirlwind campaign, from 334 to 323 B.C. The grave may be that of a relative or general of Alexander’s, archaeologists have speculated.

Alexander himself, who died in Babylon in present-day Iraq at age 32, in 323 BC, is believed to have been buried in Egypt.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE Leg 1, Day 2: Staying north TEAM SCA

Δημοσιεύτηκε στις 13 Οκτ 2014

SCA made a bold move on Day 2, they stayed north for the final approach to the Gibraltar Straits, while the rest of the fleet went south, the gamble paid off and SCA was the first boat to exit into the Atlantic. It's been a fantastic start for the crew on this first leg of the race and the first 48 hours has already brought the beauty of this race to the crew of SCA as they were joined for hours by a pod of Pilot Whales

“It’s day two, and we’re not even out of the Mediterranean Sea yet, we haven’t even really started. Wow, it’s a long way around,” Sophie said.

On day two of sailing around the world, we’ve been a part of an incredible drag race to the Gibraltar Straits with the rest of the Volvo 65s. As we sailed West along the Spanish coast, we were all neck and neck with the other boats, watching and waiting for various sail changes and wind shifts. Watching other boats is essential because often wind shifts happen unexpectedly to leaders and therefore we can be prepared for them.

Day two wasn’t special only because we were sailing with the rest of the fleet, we also had a rare visit from a pod of Pilot whales. During a particularly light wind moment, seven (or more!) whales came to say hello and play with our bow much like dolphins do. They came so close, Stacey reckons she could have touched them.  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Stacey said in shock, as the whales swam along side for a good five minutes.

60 Minutes:FEMALE STATE (Kurdish Female Warriors On The Front Lines)

Leg 1 Start Replay | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15

Δημοσιεύτηκε στις 11 Οκτ 2014

Watch the full broadcast as the fleet departs Alicante, Spain - next stop: Cape Town.

The Devil Tried to Divide Us: War in the Central African Republic (Full Length)

March 26, 2014 | 2:43 am

The Central African Republic's capital of Bangui has seen its Muslim population drop from 130,000 to under 1000 over the past few months. Over the past year, thousands across CAR have been killed and nearly a million have been displaced. The United Nations recently stated that the entire Western half of the country has now been cleansed of Muslims.

CAR has never fully recovered from France's colonial rule, and it has only known ten years of a civilian government - from 1993 to 2003 - since achieving independence in 1960. Coup after coup, often with French military involvement, has led many to refer to the country as a phantom state. The current conflict has now completely erased the rule of law and order, and left the UN and international community looking confused and impotent.

In March 2013, the Séléka, a mostly Muslim rebel alliance, rose up and overthrew the corrupt government of François Bozizé, while bringing terror and chaos across the country - pillaging, killing and raping with impunity. In response, mostly Christian self-defense forces, called the anti-balaka, formed to defend CAR against Séléka attacks.

Clashes grew more frequent throughout 2013 as the Séléka grew more ruthless. In December 2013, French and African troops went in to disarm the Séléka and staunch the bloodshed. The anti-balaka, seizing on a weakened Séléka, then went on the offensive.

CAR had no real history of religious violence, and the current conflict is not based on any religious ideology. The fighting, however, turned increasingly sectarian in the fall of 2013, with revenge killings becoming the norm. And as the Séléka's power waned, the anti-balaka fed their need for revenge by brutalizing Muslim civilians.

"Too few peacekeepers were deployed too late; the challenge of disarming the Séléka, containing the anti-balaka, and protecting the Muslim minority was underestimated," Human Rights Watch said in a recent statement.

The bloodshed has not stopped. The UN is still debating whether or not to send peacekeepers. Even if a peacekeeping operation is approved, it will take six months for troops to be assembled.

Tiny Horse: Cute Steed Suffers From Dwarfism

This Tiny Horse's Owner Refused To Put Him Down. But Wait Till You See How This Horse Lives Today.

Born at only 22 inches, Acer the Aquinas was far too small to even be referred to as a miniature horse. In fact, miniature horses are usually around 34 to 38 inches, depending on the breed registry that is involved in designating this type of horse.

So, then, what is Acer? Well, the little guy actually has a very rare type of horse dwarfism. Surprisingly, both his mother and his father had the gene for dwarfism, even though they were both full-sized horses.

Horses that suffer from dwarfism might be awfully cute, but, unfortunately, they often have to deal with significant health issues. Therefore, breeding stock registries often will avoid accepting horses affected by dwarfism to their registration of miniature horses.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE__ THE TEAMS PART 2

AROUND THE WORLD FROM SEVEN GROUPS

All you need to know about this round-the-world crewed sailing race – what is the event about, when it takes place, where it goes, who is taking part and what is that fancy boat you’ve seen in photos.

What is the Volvo Ocean Race?It’s the leading round-the-world sailing race for teams, with a series of stops that give fans the chance to experience the In-Port Race series. It began life in 1973 and was then known as the Whitbread. Today it is sailing's biggest offshore race and one of the most coveted prizes in the sport. It lasts for nearly nine months - it’s the longest sport event in the world.

For more information on the history of the race, check out our Memories section.

When is the next edition?The 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will start from Alicante, Spain on October 4, 2014. The race will finish in Gothenburg, Sweden with a final in-port race on June 27, 2015. Check out our easy-to-read table with exact dates.

What is the route?11 ports, 38,739 nautical miles - for a quick overview of the route, go the the Route section. The route map is available here.

Where can I learn about the sailors?Seven teams will cross the start line in October in Alicante:

• Team SCA, the first all-female team to compete in the race since 2001-02.
• Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, back for a second race with British skipper Ian Walker.
• Dongfeng Race Team from China, skippered by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier.
• Team Brunel from the Netherlands, skippered by race veteran Bouwe Bekking.
• Team Alvimedica with a double flag Turkey/USA, skippered by American youngster Charlie Enright.
• A Spanish team, whose main title sponsor has yet to be revealed, skippered by Iker Martínez.
• Team Vestas Wind from Denmark, skippered by Australian sailor Chris Nicholson.

Tell me about the boat:The new one-design Volvo Ocean 65 is the boat that will be used for the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. There is a whole section about this radical, high-performance, world-class, tough, affordable boat here.

This is great, but where can I find the rules?You can find the official Notice of Race and Class Rule for the Volvo Ocean 65 on the Race Noticeboard.

How do I contact the Volvo Ocean Race?Whatever your needs, try contacting one of the people in this list.

4) TEAM BRUNEL

Dutch expert Bouwe Bekking is a six-race veteran, but has yet to win. He is back with a crew of young guys - and this time, he means business.

5)TEAM ALVIMEDICA

They are young, they are American, and they've joined forces with a Turkish sponsor to finally make their seven-year dream of doing the race a reality.

Although Mark is the youngest crew member of Team Alvimedica, that hasn't held him back with success in the team. Mark is one of the co-founders of the team with Skipper, Charlie Enright. Since attending college together they have been working together to get the experience needed to create their own Volvo Ocean Racing team. Over the years he has logged over 20,000 miles in ocean sailing, including participation in events such as the Fastnet, Newport-Bermuda, and Transatlantic Races. 

In addition to being Watch Captain, Mark is also leading the team on-shore as Team Manager. He doesn't take himself to seriously though, he is Hawaiian after all and lives by the motto, “No shirt, no shoes, no worries.” Its just a guess, but I am willing to bet he will want a shirt while racing in the Southern Ocean!

Charlie Enright: Skipper

Will Oxley: Navigator

Nick Dana: Bowman/Boat Captain

David Swete: Helmsman/Trimmer

Amory Ross: On Board Reporter

Mark Towill: Watch Captain

Alberto Bolzan: Helmsman/Trimmer

Ryan Houston: Watch Captain

Sèbastien Marsset: Crew

Sailing Team

Volvo Ocean Race sailors will tell you that they love the race for the long downwind rides at breakneck speeds across the world’s greatest oceans. Although each sailor is selected for a specific crew position, in reality they all get do a bit of everything and that’s another reason they love doing the race. It’s not uncommon for just three sailors – a driver, trimmer and grinder – to be on deck hurtling the boat across the waves in the middle of a pitch black night some thousands of miles offshore. Those are the moments that stoke the inner explorer, pitting man against nature.

There are eight active sailors aboard each yacht. During the offshore legs the Team Alvimedica crew is split into two watches of three each, with two sailors – the skipper and navigator – floating, not adhering to the watch rotation. The three sailors on watch will be responsible for driving, trimming and grinding. If maneuvers are required they’ll wake as many sailors as needed from the off watch to assist.

During the in port races, when there’s a higher priority on timely crew maneuvers, the sailors will fill the specific role they were recruited to so that the sails are hoisted and lowered, trimmed and eased at the exact time.

6) TEAM MAPFRE

Spain is back in the race thanks to Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández. And this time, they have one clear objective: to claim the nation's first victory.

7) TEAM VESTAS

Chris Nicholson is back. The four-time race veteran will lead Team Vestas Wind, a campaign sponsored by Vestas, the world’s leading wind energy company.

From time immemorial, humanity has looked to the wind for hope, for harbingers of change, for the promise of victory.

That’s why Vestas is competing in the Volvo Ocean Race. Over nine months, eleven ports of call, and 39,000 nautical miles, it embodies the convergence of technology, human ingenuity, and the monumental strength of the wind. To win, you need heart and mind, ambition and optimism, skill and nature.

The awe-inspiring challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race perfectly captures the mission of Vestas, the only global company wholly devoted to wind energy. Just as the wind will fill the sails of Team Vestas Wind and propel it to the finish line, it also powers us in a race with even greater significance for everyone on this fragile planet. With the wind’s help, we are creating a smarter way of living, a better model for business, and a more sustainable future. Truly, this is a race we must win.

Wind brings hope. More than 1 billion people still live without reliable electricity. But wind can power affordable progress in the fight against energy poverty. It fuels medical equipment and lights schools. It energises water pumps in areas of scarcity while using little of that precious resource. It invigorates businesses, opens new paths to prosperity, and takes us places we never imagined we could go.

Wind brings harbingers of change. We know the importance of adjusting to the winds. Which is why Vestas believes in being not only the world’s undisputed wind power leader but also a pioneer of a transformative model of business. We work nonstop to live out our passion for customer service and improve our leading-edge technology. We strive to lower the cost of energy, making it both environmentally beneficial and financially optimal to choose wind over less earth-friendly alternatives.

Wind brings the promise of victory in the fight for a cleaner, greener, more energy-efficient world. As we wrestle with climate change and worries about energy security, it hints at the possibility of a more sustainable future. Though much of the world may be late to this endeavour—just as Vestas joins the Volvo Ocean Race at the eleventh hour—we believe success is not only within reach but also imperative.

With teamwork and pioneering spirit, world-class technology, and the wind at our backs, we will achieve our goals—both in the Volvo Ocean Race and in the push to create a brighter, better tomorrow. Indeed we have no choice. Truly, this is a race we must win.