Andrew on a voyage of discovery with BoRIS the robot; In association with RBS.AN entrepreneurial inventor hopes to increase safety on the high seas high seas In maritime law, the waters lying outside the territorial waters of any and all states. In the Middle Ages, a number of maritime states asserted sovereignty over large portions of the high seas. with a robot that can check for defects on ships and oil rigs. The robot, named BoRIS, uses magnets to reach the precarious areas found on the structures and video-records its findings for inspection. It is the brainchild brain·child n. An original idea or plan attributed to a person or group. brainchild Noun Informal an idea or plan produced by creative thought Noun 1. of electronic engineering graduate Andrew Teasdale, who realised there was a market for the technology after a number of work experience placements during his studies at Durham University, including time spent with Hartlepool nuclear power station Hartlepool Power Station is a nuclear power station of the advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) type, which was opened near Hartlepool in 1983 and is scheduled . Andrew, 23, who has set up Magnetron magnetron (măg`nĭtrŏn'), vacuum tube oscillator (see electron tube) that generates high-power electromagnetic signals in the microwave frequency range. Robotics to sell the robots, says that the invention is unique in that it can be used for a multitude of different inspections. He said: "Most robots are designed to carry out a particular job, such as check for cracks in pipes. BoRIS is far more versatile. For example, BoRIS can work on board a ship, inspecting for problems while being blasted by water and strong winds. It can operate where people cannot go and provides significant health and safety advantages, as well as being cost effective. "Its ability to clamp itself on to a surface enables it to operate in harsh conditions where humans and other robots would find it difficult." The robot, which costs around pounds 5,000, is also adaptable and can include additional tools such as ultrasonic sensors Ultrasonic sensors (AKA: transducers) work on a principle similar to radar or sonar which evaluate attributes of a target by interpreting the echoes from radio or sound waves respectively. for testing the integrity of welded joints. Andrew says he can grow the business without the need of a loan. His plans include the creation of a small team, including technicians and sales staff. Although he will be concentrating on the offshore market during the early stages of the business, Andrew also plans to expand into other areas such as bridges and buildings with metal structures. He also plans to approach a number of blue chip companies with his invention. "In the future, I hope to expand the business into other industries, and produce teams of semi-autonomous robots that could work together to accomplish a task, even forming bridges to span gaps by clamping on to one another," he said. Andrew was among the finalists for the North-East Universities Business Planning Competition, also known as the Blueprint Awards. He also received the School of Engineering Entrepreneurial Award on his graduation earlier this year and when he was 16 he won the North-East Spirit of Innovation Award for helping to build a remotely operated submarine. Christopher Knox CAPTION(S): READY FOR THE HIGH SEAS: Electronic engineering graduate Andrew Teasdale with his prototype robot BoRIS. |
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